ECOLOGY Ecology is the study of the relationship of organisms to their ______________________.  ___________________ are physically distinct, self-supporting systems of interacting organisms & their environment.  Ecosystems are composed of communities of organisms & the _________________, or nonliving, factors in the environment, such as _____________________________________.  Within an ecosystem, an organism occupies a physical region called its __________________.  It also has a specific _____________, or way of life.  _________________ biotic factors play an important role in determining where organisms live.  Organisms depend upon a continuous supply of recycled nutrients, such as _____________ & _____________.  Organisms can be _______________, _________________________, or ____________________.  All organisms occupy a ____________________ level, & all are members of a specific food chain.  Permanent, close relationships between different species are called _________________.  Organisms respond to regularly occurring phenomena in patterns called ______________________. IMPORTANT TERMS ECOSYSTEMS Biotic factors – Abiotic factors – Communities – Populations- Habitats – Niches THE FLOW OF MATERIALS Biogeochemical Cycle – Oxygen-Carbon cycle – Water Cycle – Nitrogen Cycle – Ammonification – Nitrification – Denitrification – THE TRANSFER OF ENERGY Trophic levels – Herbivores – Carnivores – Omnivores – Scavengers – Decomposers – Food Webs – Food Chains – Ecological Pyramids – Biomass – BIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS Competition – Predators – Symbiosis – Mutualism – Commensalism – Parasitism – Circadian Rhythm – Diurnal – Nocturnal – Hibernation – Estivation – SUCCESSION & BIOMES The biological communities of the world are constantly changing.  Many of these changes involve ecological ___________________, or the replacement of 1 group of species by another group that is more ___________ to life in a given area. Two types of ecological succession exist.  ____________________ succession takes place where no community existed before.  _______________________ succession takes place on land that has previously supported communities.  During succession land is occupied by a number of _________________ communities before a _________________ community finally becomes established. Large areas of similar climate & vegetation are called _____________________.  Tundra, boreal forests, deciduous forests, grasslands, tropical rain forests, & deserts are the major terrestrial biomes.  Two biomes make up the aquatic world:  the marine & freshwater.  ___________________ are special aquatic communities. IMPORTANT TERMS ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION Serial community – Climax Community – Primary succession – Pioneer species – Eutrophication – Secondary succession – TERRESTRIAL BIOMES Biome – Boreal Forest (Coniferous Forest) – Deciduous Forest – Grasslands – Savanna – Tropical Rain Forest – Desert – Tundra – AQUATIC BIOMES Plankton – Nekton – Benthos – Intertidal zone- Neritic Zone – Open Sea zone – Photosynthetic Region – Bathyal Region – Abyssal Region – Oligotrophic – Estuary –