Honors Biology: Mod 6b Ecosystems and Communities Vocabulary

Greenhouse effect

Process in which certain gases trap sunlight energy In earth's atmosphere as heat

Tolerance

ability of an organism to survive and reproduce under circumstances that differ from their optimal conditions

Niche

full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses the conditions

Competitive Exclusion Principle

principle that states that no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

Predation

interactions in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism

Herbivory

interactions in which organisms obtain energy by eating only plants

Keystone species

single species that is not usually abundant in a community yet creates strong control on the structure of a community

Symbiosis

relationship in which two species live close together

Mutualism

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship

Parasitism

symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives on or inside another organism an harms it

Commensalism

symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed

Ecological succession

series of gradual changes that occur in a community following a disturbance

Primary succession

succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present

Pioneer species

first species to populate an area during succession

Secondary succession

type of succession that occurs in an area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances