ess and bio vocab quiz

ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their non-living environment through energy flow and nutrient cycling.

population

All the individuals of one species living in the same area at the same time.

abiotic

Non-living parts of the environment (light, temperature, water, soil, pH).

biotic

Living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria).

habitat

The place where an organism lives.

niche

A species’ role in an ecosystem — including where it lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with other organisms.

realized niche

The actual conditions a species lives in after competition and other interactions limit it.

fundamental niche

The full range of conditions a species could live in without competition.

species exclusion policy

Two species cannot occupy the exact same niche in the same place long-term — one will outcompete the other.

intraspecific competition

Competition between members of the same species for limited resources.

predation

One organism kills and eats another.

herbivory

An animal feeding on plants.

symbiosis

A close long-term relationship between two species.

predatory

Describes an organism that hunts and eats other organisms

mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit

carrying capacity

The maximum population size an environment can support sustainably.

limting factor

Any resource or condition that restricts population growth (food, water, space, disease).

s curve

Growth slows as resources become limited and levels off at carrying capacity

j curve

Rapid population growth when resources are unlimited

photosynthesis

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

respiration

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy

saprotroph

Organism (like fungi/bacteria) that breaks down dead matter by external digestion.

detrivores

Organism (like earthworms) that eats dead organic material and breaks it into smaller pieces.

Pyramid of numbers

Shows number of organisms at each trophic level.

Pyramid of biomass

Shows total mass of organisms at each trophic level.

Pyramid of energy

Shows energy available at each trophic level (always upright)

biomagnification

Increase in toxin concentration as it moves up trophic levels

bioaccumulation

Build-up of a toxin in one organism over time.

species

A group of organisms that can reproduce together and have fertile offspring

community

All the different species living and interacting in one area

food chain

A simple pathway showing who eats whom and how energy moves through an ecosystem

consumer

An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms

food web

A network of interconnected food chains showing all feeding relationships in an ecosystem

global warming

The long-term rise in Earth’s temperature mainly caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat.

ozone depletion

The thinning of the ozone layer, allowing more harmful UV radiation to reach Earth

acid rain

Rain made acidic by air pollution that can damage forests, soil, and aquatic life

eutrophication

When excess nutrients enter water, causing algal blooms that reduce oxygen and kill aquatic organisms

environmental values

People’s beliefs about how the environment should be used and protecte

transfer

Movement of energy or matter from one organism to another (ex: eating)

transformation

When energy or matter changes form (ex: sunlight → chemical energy in photosynthesis)

nutrient cycle

The continuous recycling of essential elements (like carbon or nitrogen) between organisms and the environment

primary consumer

Eats producers (herbivore)

secondary consumer

Eats primary consumers

tertiary consumerc

Eats secondary consumers; often a top predator.

carbon cycle

The movement of carbon through the atmosphere, living things, oceans, and soil via processes like photosynthesis and respiration.

transfer of glucose

Glucose made by plants is passed through the food chain when organisms eat one another, transferring chemical energy.

producer(autotroph)

An organism that makes its own food, usually using sunlight (ex: plants)