Ecology
the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Biotic
all of the organisms that live together and interact with one another
abiotic
all of the physical factors such as water, soil, light, temperature
population
a group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time.
community
consists of all of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area
ecosystem
a community of organisms and its abiotic environment.
biosphere
the part of earth where life exists
herbivore
a consumer that eats plants
carnivore
a consumer that eats animals
omnivore
eat a variety of organisms both plants and animals
scavenger
animals that feed on the bodies of dead animals
food chain
represents how the energy in food molecules flow from one organism to the next
food web
Many energy pathways are possible
energy pyramid
the loss of energy at each level of the food chain, has a large base becomes smaller at the top
habitat
the environment in which an organism lives
niche
an organisms way of life
carrying capacity
the largest population a environment can support over a long period of time
prey
The organism that is eaten
predator
the organism that eats the prey
symbiosis
a close long term association between two or more species
mutualsim
A symbiotic relationship when both organisms benefit
Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
parasitsm
A symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and the other is harmed
coevolution
a long term change that takes place in two species because of their close interactions with one another