marine ecology vocab

ecology

the study of organisms and their interactions among the environment

abiotic factor

non living factors

ex: salinity, pH, temp

biotic factor

living environment

ex:other organisms

habitat

area where organism lives

ex: sea turtles living in coral reefs

niche

role an organism plays

ex: dory is prey for larger animals

commensalism

symbiotic rls where one species benefits and the other is unaffected

mutualism

symbiotic rls where both benefit from each other

parasitism

rls where one benefits and other is harmed

interspecific competition

occurs between different members

intraspecific competition

within same species

limiting resources

short supply ex. food

natural selection

adapted species overcome environmental challenges

benthic zone

organism buried at bottom of ocean

pelagic zone

organism that live in water column

autotroph

organisms capable of photosynthesis or making own food

heterotroph

organism that gains energy from autotroph

food chain

linear transfer of energy

food web

complex interconnection of energy

detritus

dead organic matter that is in solid form

gross primary productivity

total amount of organic energy created by primary producer

net primary productivity

difference between the production of primary producers