Ecology

Ecology

The study of the relationship of organisms to one another and their environment.

Biodiversity

Variety of life in an ecosystem

Producer

- Use direct energy from sun to make "food."
- Is the base of the energy pyramid.
- Consumers rely on the energy they make for food.

Consumer

Cannot create own food. Obtains food (energy) from eating other organisms (animals and plants)

Predator

Hunts and feed on prey (other organisms)

Prey

The organism being hunted and eaten by the predator.

Scavenger

Animal or organism that feeds off of dead animals/organisms.

Decomposer

An organism, such as bacteria or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animals and makes nutrients to put back into the ecosystem.

Abiotic Factor

Non-living, physical features of the environment (air, soil, temperature, climate)

Biotic Factor

Things in the environment that alive or were once alive.

Biosphere

- Part of Earth that supports life.
- Earth's crust, water, and atmosphere.

Ecosystem

Made up of living organisms and the non-living features of their environment.

Population

All organisms of an ecosystem that belongs to one species.

Community

All the populations in an ecosystem.

Habitat

- Place in which an organism lives.
- Provides food and shelter.

NICHE=Role

Ways an organism survives, obtains food and obtains shelter in their ecosystem.

Competition

Two or more organisms seek the same resource at the same time such as food and space.

Limiting Factor

Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population. Food, water, living space, mates nesting sites, and other resources.

Carrying Capacity

The largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time.

Energy Pyramid

- Shows amount of energy at each feeding level.
- Producers are on first feeding level and is the largest because it has the most organisms and the most amount of energy.

Food Chain

A way of showing how energy passes from one organism to another.

Food Web

- Shows all possible feed relationships in a community.
- Inter-related food chains.