Roles in an Ecosystem

habitat

the environment where an organism lives

niche

an organisms way of life and its relationships with its abiotic and biotic environments

limiting factor

An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing

carrying capacity

the largest population that a given environment can support over a long period of time

competition

two or more species or individuals trying to use the same limited resource.

symbiosis

a long-term association between two species

mutualism

a symbiotic relationship when both organisms benefit

commensalism

a symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and one is neutral (neither harmed nor benefits)

parasitism

a symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and one organism is harmed

parasite

an organism that feeds on another living creature

host

an organism on which a parasite lives

predator

an organism that eats other organisms

prey

the organism that is eaten by another organism

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

nitrogen cycle

The movement of nitrogen around the biosphere

Eutrophication

Process where nutrients (nitrogen) become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased unhealthy growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.