Download Biology First Six Weeks Vocabulary

Ecology Vocabulary
TERM
B.11B (SS)
*Population
*Community
*Carrying Capacity
*Biosphere
Stimuli
Response
*Limiting Factor
*Organism
*Niche
*Ecosystem
B.11D (R)
*Primary Succession
*Secondary Succession
*Climax Community
Natural Disaster
Habitat destruction
*Limiting Factor
*Biodiversity
*Pioneer Species
B.12A (R)
*Predatory
*Prey
*Symbiotic Relationship
*Parasitism
Parasite
Host
*Commensalism
*Mutualism
*Biological Competition
*Niche
*Habitat
Pollinator
B.12B (SS)
Adaptation
DEFINITION
All of the organisms of one species within a particular ecosystem
All of the interacting species within a particular ecosystem
The maximum number of species an ecosystem can support
The portion of the earth that supports life
Anything that prompts a response or action
An action that is prompted by a stimulus
An environmental factor that limits the growth of a population
A living thing that portrays the basic characteristic of life
The environmental role an organism fills within an ecosystem
All of the biotic and abiotic factors within a particular environment
The development of an ecological community in a previously uninhabited location;
no soil is present
The development of an ecological community in an area that was once inhabited
but experienced a catastrophe; soil is present
A stable ecological community that has reached an equilibrium after having adapted
to its environment
A force of nature that results in catastrophic consequences
A loss of habitat occurring in an organism’s habitat; manmade or naturally occurring
An environmental factor that limits the growth of a population
The total variation of species within a given population
The first plant species to grow during primary succession
An organism that hunts its food
An organism that is hunted for food
A relationship in which 2 species are interdependent; one always benefits, while the
other one either benefits, is not affected, or is harmed
The symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed
Lives in or on another organism and derives nourishment from them resulting in
harm to the host
An organism in which a parasite resides and/or derives nutrients from
A symbiotic relationship in which one organism receives the benefits as the other is
not affected
A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms receive benefits
A condition that occurs when 2 or more organisms compete for the same resources
within an ecological community
The environmental role an organism fills within an ecosystem
The place where an organism lives
Something that carries pollen from one flower to the next
An alteration in an organism’s characteristics that better enables it to survive in its
environment
B.12C (R)
*Food Chain
*Food Web
*Trophic Level
*Ecological Pyramid
*Producer
*Consumers
A sequence of food energy transfer from one organism to another within an
ecological community
A depiction of all of the interrelating food chains that exist within an ecological
community
An organism’s position on a food chain
A depiction of various types of relationships that occur between trophic levels of an
ecological community
Autotrophic organisms that undergo photosynthesis
Heterotrophic organisms that must consume other organisms for survival
Page 1 of 2
Ecology Vocabulary
TERM
*Primary Consumer
*Secondary Consumer
*Tertiary Consumer
*Quaternary Consumer
*Scavenger
*Decomposers
DEFINITION
An animal that eats the producers
An animal that eats the primary consumer
An animal that eats the secondary consumers
An animal that eats the tertiary consumers
An organism that feeds on dead or decaying animals
Living organisms that break down organic matter, making it available to primary
producers
B.12D (SS)
*Biome
*Abiotic Factor
*Biotic Factor
Grasslands
Temperate Forest
Limiting Factor
Carrying Capacity
Resources
B.12E (SS)
*Decomposition
*Nutrient Cycle
Biosphere
*Ammonification/Nitrogen
Cycle
*Biomass
Carbon
*Carbon Cycle
*Denitrification
*Detrivore
Legume
*Nitrification
Nitrogen
*Nitrogen Fixation
Organic
Inorganic
B.12F (R)
*Energy
*Resources
*Adaptation
*Extinction
A region of Earth with a specific climate and organisms adapted to the particular
environment
All of the non living factors within an environment
All of the living factors within an environment
A biome characterized by a primary vegetation of grasses, warm to hot climates
and moderate rainfall
A biome characterized by high biodiversity, four distinct seasons and moderate
climates
An environmental factor that limits the growth of a population
The maximum number of species an ecosystem can support
Anything that can be used by an organism for survival
The process of breaking down a substance into its smaller components; decay
Cycling of organic and inorganic matter through living organisms and the
environment
The portion of the earth that supports life
The process of converting nitrogen into ammonium by bacteria
The total mass of all living things in a specific area
A nonmetal element that contains six protons and has four valence electrons
available for covalent bonds
The process in which carbon is exchanged between the organisms and their
environment
Removing nitrogen or its compounds
An organism that feeds on dead or decaying plant or animal remains
A family of plants that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Turning ammonium into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria
A nonmetal, gaseous element that contains 7 protons
Bacterial action that results in the combination of atmospheric nitrogen with other
elements; making nitrogen available for use by plants
A chemical compound containing the element carbon and relating to living
organisms
A chemical compound not containing the element carbon and unrelated to living
organisms
The ability to do work
Anything that can be used by an organism for survival
An alteration in an organism’s characteristics that better enables it to survive in its
environment
A species that is no longer alive
Page 2 of 2