Download Abiotic Factor

Biotic Factor
A living factor in an ecosystem
Abiotic Factor
A non-living factor in and ecosystem
Biological Community
Several populations interacting in the same area
Biome
Ecosystems with similar climate
Biosphere
The Earth, the surface and atmosphere where you find
living organisms
Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where one party benefits and the
other neither benefits or is harmed
Symbiosis
A very close relationship between two different species
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where both parties benefit
Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship where one party benefits and the
other is harmed
Ecology
The study of (=ology)
Interactions between organisms and the environment they
live in
Ecosystem
Interactions between a community and the abiotic factors in
a specific area
Habitat
An organism’s “address”, where they live
Niche
An organism’s “job,” the role they play in their environment
Population
Several members of the same species that are living in the
same geographic area
To hunt other organisms for food
Predation
Opposite= prey
Host
The organism that is harmed in a parasitic symbiotic
relationship
Autotroph
Producer
“self-feeder”
Makes its own food, usually by photosynthesis
Plants
Heterotroph
Consumer
“different-feeder”
Must eat other organisms for food, to get energy
Humans, rabbits
Biomass
The total mass (grams) of living material
Carnivore
Organism that eats other consumers
Herbivore
Organism that only eat autotrophs (plants)
Herb = plant
Producer
Autotroph
Make its own food, usually by photosynthesis
Detritivore
Eat dead, decaying organisms
Omnivore
Eats producers and consumers
Food Chain
A single energy pathway through an ecosystem
Food Web
Trophic Level
Every possible energy pathway through an ecosystem
Each organism in a food chain or food web
Biogeochemical Cycle
Chemical cycles that cycle between the earth and living
organisms
Denitrification
The changing of usable nitrogen in the soil to atmospheric
nitrogen, which cannot be used by plants and animals
Matter
Anything with mass
nitrogen fixation
The changing of atmospheric nitrogen (cannot be used by
plants and animals) into nitrogen that can be absorbed and
used by plants (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites)
Nutrient
A chemical substance required by an organism to sustain
life
Climax Community
A mature community (usually near the end of succession)
Ecological Succession
Predictable changes in a community (2 types)
Limiting Factor
A factor that limits the size of a population (can be abiotic
or biotic)
Primary Succession
Type of Succession
Only rock left
Examples: volcanic eruption & glacial melting
Secondary Succession
Type of Succession
Only soil left
Examples: forest fire & land clearing
Climate
Average year round conditions of temperature and
precipitation
Desert
Biome
Characterized by very little precipitation
Temperate Forest
Georgia’s Biome
Characterized by heavy precipitation & deciduous trees
Tundra
Biome
Located near Northern pole
Permafrost = permanently frozen soil
No trees
Weather
The day-to-day temperature and atmospheric conditions
Estuary
Where a freshwater source meets a salt water source
Carrying Capacity
The maximum # of individuals in a population that an
environment can support
Density-Dependent Factor
Biotic factor that affects population growth
Density-Independent Factor
Abiotic factor that affects population growth
Emigration
When an individual leaves a population
Immigration
When an individual enters a population
Population Density
# of individuals divided by the area in which they live
Biodiversity
Diversity of life