Download The study of how living things interact with nature Biotic The living

Ecology
The study of how living things interact
with nature
Biotic
The living parts of the environment
abiotic
Non Living parts of the environment
population
All of the members of a species in an
area
community
All of the different organisms in an
ecosystem
ecosystem
A community of organisms and their
environment.
biosphere
All of the living space on earth.
herbivore
An animal that eats only plants
carnivore
An animal that eats only other animals
omnivore
An animal that eats plants and animals
food chain
A diagram showing how energy passes
from one organism to the next
food web
A diagram showing all of the connected
food chains in an ecosystem
energy
pyramid
A diagram showing how energy
decreases as it goes up a food chain.
carrying
capacity
The maximum number of organisms of
a species an ecosystem can hold
prey
An organism that is hunted for food
predator
An organism that hunts others for food
symbiosis
A relationship where two different
species live closely and interact often.
mutualism
A type of symbiosis is when two species
help each other.
commensalism
A type of symbiosis when one species
benefits from another but the second
species isn’t affected
Competition
When two organisms fight over the
same resources
parasitism
A type of relationship where one
organism benefits while harming the
other organism.
coevolution
When a relationship between two
species causes them both to adapt.
decomposition
When dead organisms break down into
simpler chemicals
combustion
When a material is burned
decomposer
An organism that breaks down material
in dead organisms.
succession
When a destroyed ecosystem recovers
and becomes full of life again.
pioneer
species
The first species to return to a
destroyed ecosystem
biome
A large group of similar ecosystems
with similar climate and similar
organisms
savanna
A hot dry grassland with large herds
and a few trees. Found in africa
desert
A hot and dry biome with very little
water.
tundra
A very cold and very dry biome where
parts of the ground are permanently
frozen.
plankton
microorganisms that acts as a producer
for marine ecosystems.
estuary
An area where freshwater and
saltwater mix.
wetland
An ecosystem that is frequently flooded
and has very wet soil.
Biodiversity
Large amount of different organisms
Producer
The organisms that makes food for an
ecosystem. The first part of a food chain
Autotroph
An organism that makes its own food.
Usually through photosynthesis. (think
producer)
Heterotroph
Any organism that has to obtain its food
from eating other organisms.” Think
Consumer”
Taiga
A northern Ecosystem with a cold and
somewhat dry climate. Mostly full of
coniferous trees and furry mammals
Grassland
A semi dry seasonal biome that is mostly covered
in grass. There is not enough water for trees. Large
grazing herbivores are common here.
Consumer
The organism in a food chain that has to
eat other organism. Think heterotrophs.
Limiting Factor
The scarcest resource or the one that runs out first
that causes a population to decline.