allelochemicals
substances produced by plants that prevent or limit damage by herbivores
allelopathy
a form of competition involving the release of a chemical by one plant species that inhibits the growth of other species
cladodes
fine green branches that carry out photosynthesis in plant species where leaves are very reduced
commensalism
association between two different species in a community in which one benefits and the second apparently neither gains nor is harmed
decomposers
organisms, such as fungi, that can break down and absorb organic matter of dead organisms or their products
desiccation
dying out
detritivores
organisms that eat particles of organic mater found in soil or water
diversity
measure of "species richness" or the number of different species in a community
ecology
study of communities in their habitats and the interactions between them and their environment
haustoria
thin strand of tissue through which a plant parasite makes connection with its host
host
organism on or in which a specific parasite lives
mimicry
a situation in which one species has an appearance similar to that of a different but distasteful species where that similarity apparently gives protection against predators
parasite
organism that lives on or in another organism and feeds from it usually without killing it
parasitoids
adult females of some wasp and fly species that are like parasites but parasitoids slowly kill off their hosts
symbiosis
prolonged association between different species in a community in which at least one partner benefits; includes parasitism, mutualism and commensalism