ecology

ecology

the study of the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem

community

populations of two or more different species living in the same area at the same time

ecosystem

a community of interacting organisms that are in one environment

biotic

a living entity in a ecosystem

abiotic

a non-living entity in an ecosystem

biodiversity

a wide variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem (ex: a coral reef with a bunch of different fish and seaweed)

keystone species

a fundamental species in an ecosystem that other organisms largely depend on

habitat

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

ecological niche

the role or function of an organism within its ecosystem (how it obtains resources, interacts with other organisms, and contributes to its environment)

resource/niche partitioning

 when different species in the same area use different resources or do things at various times to avoid competing with each other

simbiosis

when two different species live closely together, and at least one of them benefits.

mutualism

a mutually beneficial relationship between two species

commensalism

a relationship where one species benefits but the other is unaffected.

parasitism

 a relationship where one species benefits but the other is harmed

altruism

behavior where one individual helps another at the cost of its own fitness or survival. 

exponential growth

when something grows faster and faster over time by a fixed percentage; curved graph

logistic growth

when something grows quickly at first, then slows down and levels off

limiting factor

something that restricts the growth, distribution, or abundance of something

tropic cascade

when changes at the top level of a food chain cause a ripple effect that impacts all other factors below

biosphere

the layer of the Earth where living things exist

food chain

a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients move from one organism to another, starting with a producer and moving through different levels of consumers

food web

a network of interconnected food chains that shows how different organisms in an ecosystem are related through feeding relationships.