Ecology Vocab Terms

Parasitism

Relationship where one organism benefits, and the other is harmed

Carnivores

Animals who only eat other animals

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can support

Consumer

These types of organisms hunt or gather their food

Commensalism

One organism benefts, while the other does not benefit nor is harmed

Biosphere

The broadest level of organization including all life on Earth

Ecology

The study of the relationships between organisms and their environment

Eutrophication

Excessive nutrient enrichment of water leading to algal blooms

Symbiosis

A long-term relationship between two or more different species

Biomes

Examples of this can include: Tundra, Rainforest, Coniferous Forest

Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that can slow or stop a population from growing

Omnivore

Animals that eat both plants and animals are called:

Producer

Make their own food using energy from the sun

Food Chain

A term used to describe the way energy moves through an ecosystem

Prey

The animal that is captured and eaten

Community

Made up of all the populations that live in the same area

Food Web

A diagram that shows animals getting energy from more than one source

Predator

An animal that captures and eats other animals

Population

A group of the same species living in the same place at the same time

Trophic Level

10% of energy is transferred at each of these

Decomposer

These organisms eat dead animal remains or waste

Ecosystem

Group of living things and the environment they live in

Herbivore

Animals who eat only plants

Niche

An Animal’s job in an environment