Ecology Reading 1: What Affects How Many Organisms and How Many Kinds of Organisms Live in an Ecosystem? (HS-LS2.1, 2.2)

Ecosystem

A place where living and non-living things live and work together.

Carrying capacity

The largest number of organisms an ecosystem can support.

Biodiversity

Many different kinds of living things in one place.

Species diversity

Many different types of animals and plants.

Genetic diversity

Differences in the genes of the same species.

Biotic factors

Living things that affect other living things.

Abiotic factors

Non-living things that affect living things.

Feeding relationships

How animals get their food, like predators and prey.

Symbiosis

When two different organisms live closely and at least one benefits.

Competition

When organisms fight for food, water, or space.

Disease

When many organisms get sick.

Climate and weather conditions

Temperature, rainfall, storms, and other weather.

Natural disasters

Big bad events like floods, fires, or hurricanes.

Availability of resources

How much food, water, and shelter are available.

Trends

Patterns over time, like going up or down.

mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction, such as bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar.

commensalism

A type of symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, like barnacles attaching to a whale.

parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another, such as a tick feeding on a mammal.