Biology Keywords Chapter 6

environment

the place where an organism lives together with other organism and abiotic factors

community

the living parts of an ecosystem

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that are able to interbreed

habitat

the non-living parts of an ecosystem

biotic factor

living part of an ecosystem that influences the environment

abiotic factor

a non-living part of an ecosystem that influences the environment

to compete

to fight for food, mates and place in an ecosystem

predation

a relation between animals where one animal captures and eats a different animal

predator

the animal that captures and eats another animal

prey

the animal that is captured and eaten by a predator

producer

organisms that produce their own food (plants because of photosynthesis)

consumers

organisms that consume other organisms

primary consumer

an organism that eats producers (plants)

secondary consumer

an organism that eats the primary consumers

reducer / decomposer

organisms that break down biological matter making it available for producers

fossil fuels

oil, coal and natural gas that can be combusted to produce energy

nitrate

most important mineral for plants

nitrifying bacteria

bacteria that turn ammonia into nitrates

denitrifying bacteria

bacteria that break down parts of nitrates and release nitrogen gas

nitrogen-fixing bacteria

bacteria that turn nitrogen gas into ammonia

root nodules

nodules on the roots of plants that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria

sustainable

maintaining nature’s resources for the future (keeping them vital)

sustainable energy

energy produces with the use of sustainable sources

balance of nature

An ecological theory that implies that disturbed ecosystems can naturally return to a state of balance

exotic species

a species that has been introduced in a country by humans