Ecology

niche

The position/role of an organism in a community

adaptation

inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival

decomposer

organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

biome

a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

ecosystem

A community of organisms and their abiotic environment

habitat

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

producer/autotroph

An organism that can make its own food.

consumer

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms

autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

trophic cascade

indirect effects in a community that are initiated by a predator

heterotroph/comsumer

An organism that cannot make its own food.

symbiotic relationship

close interaction between species in which one species lives in or on the other

mutualism

both organisms benefit

commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

parsitism

a relationship where one benefits while the other is harmed

food chain

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

food web

A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains

Adaption

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce

resource

any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space

abiotic

physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.

biotic

Describes living factors in the environment.

organic

Contains carbon