Ecology
The study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their environment
Biotic
Describes living factors in the environment
Abiotic
Describes the nonliving part of the environment, includes water, rocks, light and temperature
Organism
A living thing
Population
Group of organisms of the same species that live together
Community
The populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other
Ecosystem
A community of organisms and their abiotic environment
Biosphere
The part of the earth where life exists
Producers
Use sunlight to make food by using photosynthesis
Consumers
Organism that eat other organisms
Herbivore
A consumer that eats only plants
Carnivore
A consumer that eats animals
Omnivore
A consumer that eats both plants and animals
Scavenger
Omnivores that eats dead plants and animals
Decompossers
Organisms that get energy by braking down dead organisms (Nature's Recyclers) Ex. Fungi, Bacteria
Food Chain
Pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms
(Shows how energy transfers trough an environment)
Food Web
A diagram that shows the (series of food chains) feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem
Energy Pyramid
A triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem's food chain
Limiting Factor
A resource that is so scarce that it limits the size of a population (water, food, living, space, etc.)
Carrying Capacity
The largest population that an environment can support at any given time
Competition
2 or more individuals or population trying to use the same resource for: food, water, shelter, space, sunlight, mates
Predator
An organism that eats all or part of another organisms
Prey
An organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
Symbiosis (Symbiotic Relationships)
Relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other
Mutualism
Relationship between 2 species in which both species benefit
~Bacteria in your intestines and you
~Some corals and the algae living inside them
~Clownfish and sea anemones
Commensalism
Relationship between 2 organisms in which one organism benefits and the other in unaffected
~Sharks & remoras
~Cattle egrets & lifestock
Parasitism
Relationship between two species in which one species (the parasite) benefits from the other species (the host), which is harmed
~Tomato hornworm and young wasps
~Dogs & fleas
~Aphids & roses
~Tapeworms & you
Coevolution
The evolution of 2 species that is due to mutual influence, often in a way that makes the relationship more beneficial to both species
~Ants & acacia trees
~Flowers & their pollinators have traits that benefit both