ecology

Ecology

Study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment

Habitat

The place in which an organism lives out its life

Niche

The role and position a species has in it’s environment

Biome

Large area of similar climate and vegetation

Endemic

Limited to a specific region. Only found in a certain place

Indigenous

Originating for a region, but also found elsewhere

Alien plant

Organisms that are non native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health

Biodiversity

Term used to describe the variety of the plants and animals

Producer

Green plants that make their own food by photosynthesis

AUTOTROPHES

Consumers

Living organisms which rely on other organisms for food

HETEROTROPHES

Decomposer

Organisms that break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the environment

Ecosystem

A system that includes all living organisms in an area, as well as its physical environment functioning together as a unit

Biotic factor

All living organisms inhabiting the earth

Abiotic factors

Non-living parts of the environment

Altitude

The height above sea level

Slope

The gradient which represents the steepness of a slope

Aspect

Position of an area in relation to the sun/wind/wave action

Diurnal

Animals that are active during the day

Nocturnal

Animals that are active during the night

Phototropism

When a plant grows in the direction of maximum sunlight

Photoperiodism

The way a plant or animal reacts to the amount of light it gets at a time

Ectothermic

Any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on external sources

Endothermic

Any animal dependent or capable of internal generation of heat

Migration

Movement of animals to warmer places

Hibernation

Animals that sleep through winter

Aestivation

Burrowing in hot dry conditions

Hydrophytes

Plants adapted to grow in water

Mesophytes

Plants that grow in a moderate water supply

Xerophytes

Plants adapted to grow in extremely dry conditions