Download Chapter 1 Lesson 3 Vocab Ecology

Vocabulary Chapter 1: Lesson 3
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Natural selection
Adaptation
Niche
Competition
Predation
Predator
Prey
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Parasite
host
Natural Selection
The process by which organisms
that are best adapted to their
environment are most likely to
survive and reproduce.
Examples: birds that have
adapted to eating (activity),
black mice on volcanic ash
Adaptation
o
An inherited behavior or physical
characteristic that helps an organism
survive and reproduce in its
environment.
Niche
o
The role an organism plays
in its habitat
o
Examples: producer,
predator, how they
reproduce, and physical
conditions it needs to
survive.
Competition
the struggle between
organisms to survive
Examples:
for food,
sunlight, nutrients,
water, shelter, space
predation
oOne
organism kills
another for food or
nutrients
predator
Organism
that does the
killing
A: prey
Apply: Too many
predators decrease the
population
Prey
The
organism that is
killed
A: Predator
Apply: a decrease in
prey will lead to
decrease in predators
Symbiosis
Any
relationship in which
two species live closely
together and at least one
of the species benefits.
Examples: mutualism,
commensalism, parasitism
Mutualism
A
relationship that both
species benefits
Example: stinging ants in
an Acacia tree, oxpecker
eat ticks on Impala’s ears,
hummingbird and flower
Commensalism
A
relationship that
one species benefits
and there is no effect
on the other
Example: ray and fish,
tree and some plants
Parasitism
A
relationship that one
species benefits and the
other species is harmed
Example: Mistletoe,
cowbird and yellow
warbler, fish lice, lice, ticks
Parasite
The
organism that
benefits
Example: tick,
mistletoe, cowbird, lice
host
The
organism that is
harmed
Example: yellow warbler,
fish, people, tree