Ecology test

Commensalism

The relationship between two species where one species benefits while the other species is neither harmed nor helped

Invasive species

An organism that has been introduced and has a negative impact on the environment

Biodiversity

The variety of life at every level, from genes to species to ecosystems

Abiotic

The non-living components in an ecosystem (ex: water, soil, rocks, air, temperature, sunlight)

Biotic

The living components in an ecosystem, they are called organisms (ex: plants, animals, insects, bacteria, fungi). (Bio=”life”)

Competition

The situation when two organisms or two species compete for the same resource

Symbiosis

The close and often long-term interaction between two species

Carbohydrates

Large molecules made up of chains of sugar

Digestion

The process of breaking down food

Transect

The specific path or area, often marked with a rope or measuring tape showing where data should be collected.

Dependent variable

The observed phenomenon that is being measured

Cellular respiration

A series of chemical reactions in a cell that break down sugars and release energy

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen

Independent variable

The controlled variable in an experiment

Quadrat

A square or rectangular plot of land marked off; to determine where to collect their samples.

Decomposers

An organism that gets its food from dead organisms and wastes from living organisms

Proteins

Large molecules made up of chains of subunits called amino acids

Matter

The stuff that makes up all living and nonliving objects

Introduced species

An organism that has been accidentally or purposely added to a new environment. (Could have a positive or negative impact.)

Mutualism

The relationship between two species where both species benefit

Food web

A diagram that models feeding relationships within an ecosystem

Parasitism

The relationship between two species where one species benefits while the other is harmed.

Consumer

An organism that gets its food by eating other organisms

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same habitat.

Habitat

A location in the environment where an organism lives.

Producer

An organism that produces its own food.

Energy

The ability to cause objects to change, move, or work.

Cell

The smallest structural unit, enclosed by a membrane, that makes up all living organisms.