Download Ecosystems Vocabulary

ECOSYSTEMS VOCAB
Levels of Organization






Biosphere- Made of all the ecosystems on Earth
Ecosystem-A collection of living things & the environment
they live in
Habitat-Natural, physical environment of an organism
Organism-Any living system
Populations-All individuals of a species in a given area
Community-Consists of populations of different species
that interact
Survival of the Fittest



Adaptations-Any characteristic of an organism that
makes it better able to live in its habitat
Evolution-Changes in hereditary features of a
species over time
Natural Selection-Darwin’s theory of evolution

States that organisms best adapted to their
environment are more likely to survive & pass their
traits to their offspring
Roles in the Ecosystem



Producers-Organisms (green plants) that can make
their own food by photosynthesis
Consumers-Organisms that can’t
their own food
Decomposers-Break down the bodies of dead
organisms





Herbivore-Eats plants
Carnivore-Flesh-eating animals
Omnivore-Eats plants & animals
Predator-Feeding of 1 organism on another
Prey-Food for larger organisms
Sun-Source of energy
 Photosynthesis-Process where plants use light energy
to produce food
 CO2 + 2H2O + sunlight ---> O 2 + (C H2O)n +
H2 O
or...
carbon dioxide + water + sunlight --->
oxygen + carbohydrate + water

Respiration-Process where organisms break down
food to release energy
Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon dioxide + Water + 36
ATP

C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 36 ATP

Limiting Factors-limit the amount of organisms an
ecosystem can support
 Space,

Abiotic Factors-Non-living factors in an ecosystem
 Water,

Food, Water, Disease
air temperature, amount of sunlight, nutrients
Water-Respiration, photosynthesis, & digestion can
only take place in the presence of water


Soil-Type of soil determines types of plants &
organisms in that location
Light & Temperature- Availability of sunlight major
factor determining where green plants live

Biotic Factors-Living organisms in the environment
 Examples:
plants & animals
Dichotomous KeyClassifies organisms
using a detailed list
of traits

Symbiotic Relationships

Symbiosis-Any close relationship between 2 or more
DIFFERENT species
Commensalism

Commensalism-Benefits 1 species but does not harm
or help the other
 Example-Anenomes
& Clownfish
MUTUALISM

Benefits both species
PARASITISM

Benefits the parasite & harms the host