Ecology

Control Group

a group that isn't experimented on, typically used for baseline data

Dependent Variable

the variable that responds to the independent variable, typically where you get data from

Experimental Group

a group where one factor is changed to get data for the experiment

Hypothesis

a possible explanation for a set of observation

Independent variable

the changed variable to get results from the experiment

Observation

a careful viewing of something to collect data

Qualitative Data

data that has to do with qualities

Quantitative Data

data that has to do with numbers

Variable

something that can change or be changed

Theory

a well tested explanation that explains a set of observations, can be retested and changed

Homeostasis

constant internal conditions that organisms maintain

Metabolism

the combination of chemical reactions through which organisms break down materials

Stimulus

signals to which an organism responds

Abiotic Factor

a nonalive factor that in any given environment

Biosphere

the part of earth where life exists

Biotic Factor

a living factor of any given environment

Community

assemblage of populations that live together in a defined area

Ecology

The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Ecosystem

all the organisms in that live in a place along with their nonliving environment

Organism

a living thing made of one or more cells

Population

a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Autotroph

an organism that makes its own food from its environment

Carnivore

an organism whose system is made to eat meat, an organism that eats meat

Decomposer

an organism that breaks down and receives food from dead matter

Herbivore

an organism whose system is made to eat plants, an organism that eats plants

Heterotroph

an organism that gets its food from other organisms

Omnivore

an organism that can eat plants and other organisms

Photosynthesis

the process by which plants make their own food by converting light energy into chemical energy

Primary Producer

an organism that makes its own food and other organisms feed on

10% Rule

only ten percent of energy is transferred through each trophic level

Ecological Pyramid

an illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter in each trophic level

Primary Consumer

a consumer that eats plants, herbivores

Food Chain

a series of steps in a ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Food Web

a network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relations among the organisms in an ecosystem

Secondary Consumer

the first level that eats meat in a food chain

Trophic Level

each step in a food chain or food web

Charistics of Life

the set of characteristics that an organism must have in order to considered alive

Predator

an organism that eats consumers

Prey

an organism that is eaten by other organisms