ecology
the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment/surrounding
population
an assemblage of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
communities
an assemblage of different populations in an area
ecosystem
includes all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their physical environment
biome
a group of ecosystems that have similar climates and organisms
biosphere
consists of the parts of the planet in which all life exists
biotic factor
any living part of an environment
abiotic factor
any nonliving part of an environment
autotrophs
also known as primary producers and are organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food
heterotrophs
also known as consumers and are organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food
herbivores
obtain energy by eating plants (cows, rabbits)
carnivores
obtain energy by eating only animals (snakes, lions)
omnivores
obtain energy by eating both plants and animals (you, bear)
scavengers
obtain energy by consuming carcasses of other animals (vultures)
decomposers
obtain energy by breaking organic matter (bacteria, fungi)
detrivores
obtain energy by feeding on dead matter (earthworm)
photosynthesis
the process in which autotrophs capture light and energy and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugars
chemosynthesis
the process in which autotrophs use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
observations, experimentation, modeling
What are the three basic methods of ecological research?