Grade 9

species

a group of organisms that have the same structure and can reproduce with one another to produce fertile offspring

biological diversity

all the different types of organisms on the earth

ecosystem

a particular environment where living things interact with other living things and non-living things

population

a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

community

a group of populations of different species living in the same area

symbiosis

sym (together) bio (life); an association between members of different species

commensalism

one of the participating organisms benefits while the other one does not

mutualism

both of the participating organisms benefit

parasitism

one of the participating organisms benefits while the other is harmed

interspecies competition

happens when two or more species need the same resources. i.e. two differnet species competing for the same food…resulting in less of it for each species

niche

describes the role of an organism within an ecosystem

resource partitioning

when species are not targeting the same resources

Generalist

species that has a very broad niche; can withstand a wide range of environment condition

Specialist

species that has a very narrow niche, very sensitive to environmental changes

broad niche

the roles or characteristic activities filled by a generalist organism

narrow niche

a highly specialized role or characteristic activity undertaken by an organism in an ecosystem

producer

An organism that makes its own food

primary consumer

consumer that feeds directly on producers

Secondary consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers

tertiary consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers

decomposer

An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals

herbivore

A consumer that eats only plants.

carnivore

organism that obtains energy by eating animals

kingdom

A very broad classification including a vast number of species

Linnaeus

Father of taxonomy

scientific name

The name given to each species, consisting of its genus and its species label

Kingdom, Phylum, , Order, Family, Genus, Species

Class

Kingdom, Phylum, Class , Order, * , Genus, Species

Family

Kingdom, Phylum, Class , * Family , Genus, Species

Order

ecological diversity

the variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

species diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

genetic diversity

a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population