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Download Ecology Vocabulary - Petal School District
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Ecology Vocabulary Ecology—the study of the interaction between organisms and their environment Autotroph—same as producer Ex: plants, algae (protists), some bacteria Heterotroph—same as consumer Ex: animals, fungi, some protists, and bacteria Herbivore—only eat plants Carnivore—a predator that kills and eats other animals Omnivore—eat plants and animals Scavenger—eat dead animals Decomposer—(also called saprobe/ saprophyte)—break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms Ex: bacteria and fungi Detritivore or Detrivore—eat dead organic matter (detritus) Ex: earthworms, millipedes Predation—the predator-prey relationship Competition—occurs when 2 species fight for the same limited resources Symbiosis—two species living together; at least one depends on the other Mutualism—type of symbiosis in which BOTH species benefit Commensalism—type of symbiosis in which one species benefits and the other is NOT AFFECTED Parasitism—type of symbiosis in which one species benefits and the other is HARMED Food Web—expresses ALL possible feeding relationships in a community Food chain—one path in a food web Trophic level—represents a feeding step in a food web Ecological or energy pyramids—describe energy conversion in an ecosystem Biomass—the total mass of all organisms at any one level in the pyramid Biological Magnification—the concentration of toxic substances increases as it moves up the food chain Habitat—where an organism lives Niche—an organism’s way of life; the role it plays in the ecosystem Population—all members of the same species that live in a certain area Community—All populations in a certain area Ecosystem—the biotic and abiotic factors interacting in an area Biotic—living things Abiotic—nonliving things (Remember “a-” means without or not.) Biome—A large area defined by the presence of certain plants and animals Biosphere—the area on Earth where life exists (the SURFACE) Terrestrial biome—land biome Aquatic biome—water biome Biogeochemical cycles—Processes that cycle certain chemicals through organisms and the environment Transpiration—when plants release excess water through their leaves Carbon fixation—when inorganic carbon (as in carbon dioxide) is changed to organic carbon (as in sugar) Combustion—the burning of fossil fuels that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere Nitrogen fixation—process that takes nitrogen gas and begins to put it into a form plants can use Carrying capacity—the largest number of organisms from a species that can be supported by the environment Limiting Factor—any living or nonliving thing that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms Tolerance—the ability to withstand Succession—orderly, natural changes that take place in a community Climax community—a stable, mature community that undergoes little to no succession Primary—establishment & development of an ecosystem in an area that was previously UNINHABITED Secondary-REESTABLISHMENT of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intact; occurs after natural disasters and humans changing the landscape