Marine Ecology Vocab

Ecology

The interaction between organisms and their environment

Community

All populations of organisms living in a defined area.

Population

1 species living in a defined area.

Habitat

The physical place where an organism lives.

Abiotic

non-living parts of the environment; physical and chemical features.

Biotic

living parts of the environment.

Limiting Resources

Have the ability to affect the growth of a population.

Exponential Growth

Population grows & grows; unchecked.

Logistic Growth

Population levels off

Carrying Capacity

Largest population size that can be sustained by available resources.

Competition

Occurs when organisms must "fight" with one another over a limiting resource they both require for survival.

IntraSpecific Competition

Organisms compete with their own species

InterSpecific Competition

Organisms compete with other species