4.1 vocab

Ecosystem

The organisms of a particular habitat together with the physical environment in which they live.

Species

A group of individuals of common ancestry that closely resemble each other and are normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Community

A group of populations of organisms living and interacting within a habitat.

Abiotic factors

Aspects of the environment that are not living, such as humidity, temperature, salinity, wind, and soil particles.

Biotic factors

The biological influences and factors on organisms in an ecosystem.

Ecology

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Autotrophs

Organisms that are able to make their own food from simple inorganic materials and an energy source.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that feed on organic molecules.

Consumers

Organisms that feed on another organism.

Detritivores

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter through ingestion.

Saprotrophs

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter through absorption.

Decomposers

Organisms that feed on dead plant and animal matter so that it can be recycled; most decomposers are microorganisms.

Mesocosm

A small-scale, self-sustaining natural system that can be used to study part of an ecosystem under controlled conditions.

Symbiotic relationship

‘Living together’ - includes commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.