Ecology

Chapter 5 age structure A population?s age structure?the proportions of individuals at various ages?can have a strong effect on how rapidly it increases or decreases in size. biotic potential Species vary in their biotic potential or capacity for population growth under ideal conditions. carrying capacity (K) Together, biotic potential and environmental resistance determine the carrying capacity (K): the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely without being degraded. coevolution

Chapter 3 abiotic Two types of components make up the biosphere and its ecosystems: One type, called abiotic, consists of nonliving components such as water, air, nutrients, rocks, heat, and solar energy. aerobic respiration Producers, consumers, and decomposers use the chemical energy stored in glucose and other organic compounds to fuel their life processes. In most cells this energy is released by aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen to convert glucose (or other organic nutrient molecules) back into carbon dioxide and water. anaerobic respiration, or fermentation Some decomposers get the energy they need by breaking down glucose (or other organic compounds) in the?absence?of oxygen. This form of cellular respiration is called anaerobic respiration, or fermentation.