Ecosystems

Abiotic

Things that are not alive, like rocks, water, and air.

Biotic

Things that are alive, like plants, animals, and bacteria.

Resources

Things that living things need to survive, like food, water, and shelter.

Predator-prey relationship

The way that one animal (the predator) hunts and eats another animal (the prey).

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals.

Prey

An animal that is hunted and eaten by predators.

Symbiosis

A close relationship between two different living things that helps at least one of them.

Mutualism

A type of symbiosis where both living things benefit, like bees and flowers.

Commensalism

A type of symbiosis where one living thing benefits and the other is not helped or hurt, like barnacles on a whale.

Parasitism

A type of symbiosis where one living thing (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed, like ticks on a dog.

Competition

When living things try to get the same resources, like food or space.

Competitive exclusion principle

The idea that if two living things need the same resource, one will do better and the other might not survive.

Intraspecific competition

Competition between the same kind of living things, like two rabbits fighting for food.

Interspecific competition

Competition between different kinds of living things, like a rabbit and a deer both trying to eat the same grass.

Limited resources

When there isn’t enough of something, like food or water, for all living things to have what they need.

Resource partitioning

When different living things share resources in a way that helps them all survive, like birds eating insects at different heights in a tree.

Biomes

Large areas of the Earth with similar climate, plants, and animals, like forests or deserts.

Adaptation

A change in a living thing that helps it survive in its environment, like a cactus storing water.

Niche

The role or job a living thing has in its environment, including where it lives and what it eats.

Habitat

The place where a living thing lives, like a forest or a pond.

Terrestrial

Anything related to land or living on land.

Taiga

A cold forest biome with lots of pine trees, found in places like Canada and Russia.

Temperate rainforest

A forest biome with mild temperatures and lots of rain, where big trees and ferns grow.

Temperate seasonal forests

Forests with four seasons, where trees lose their leaves in winter.

Tropical rainforest

A warm and wet forest with a lot of different plants and animals, found near the equator.

Shrubland

An area with many bushes and small plants, usually in places with dry climates.

Temperate grassland

A flat area with grasses and few trees, usually with hot summers and cold winters.

Savanna

A grassland with scattered trees, found in warm places with seasonal rain.

Desert

A very dry place with very little rain and few plants.

Tundra

A cold, treeless area where the ground is frozen part of the year, found near the North and South Poles.

Drinking water

Water that is safe to drink and good for people and animals.

Lumber

Wood that is cut from trees and used to make things like furniture or buildings.

Soil fertility

How good the soil is for growing plants, which depends on its nutrients and health.

Aquatic

Anything related to water, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.

Freshwater

Water that is not salty, like water in rivers and lakes.

Streams/Rivers

Small and large flowing bodies of freshwater.

Ponds/Lakes

Still bodies of freshwater where plants and animals can live.

Marine

Anything related to the ocean or sea.

Ocean/Coral reef

Large bodies of saltwater; coral reefs are colorful underwater structures made by tiny animals called corals.

Marshland

Wet areas filled with grasses and reeds, often found near rivers or lakes.

Estuary

A place where fresh water from rivers meets salty ocean water, creating a rich habitat for many animals.

Algae

Simple, plant-like organisms that can be found in water, sometimes making it green.

Salinity

The amount of salt in water.

Turbidity

How clear or cloudy the water is, often due to dirt or other particles.

Nutrient availability

How much food (nutrients) is present in the soil or water for plants and animals to use.