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Ecology
Study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.
Habitat
Place where a particular population of a species lives.
Species
A group of organisms that are able to reproduce and produce fertile offspring.
Population
All the organisms of the same species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves.
Community
The many different species that live together in a habitat.
Ecosystem
A community and all of the physical aspects of its habitat (soil, air, water, weather).
Biome
Major biological community that occurs over a large area of land.
Abiotic
The physical, or non-living aspects of a habitat.
Biotic
The living organisms of a habitat.
Biodiversity
Number of species living within an ecosystem.
Pioneer Species
The first organisms to colonize barren or disrupted environments.
Succession
Regular progression of species replacement.
Primary Succession
Succession that occurs when organisms first colonize a barren, lifeless habitat.
Secondary Succession
Succession that occurs in areas where there has been previous growth.
Primary Productivity
The rate at which organic material is produced by photosynthetic organisms in an ecosystem.
Climax Community
The final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event.
Autotroph
Organisms that make their own food, producers.
Heterotroph
Organisms that consume others for food, consumers.
Producer
Organisms that first capture energy and make their own food.
Consumer
Organisms that consume producers for food.
Trophic Level
A specific level in an ecosystem based on the organism’s source of energy.
Food Chain
The path of energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem.
Herbivores
Animals that eat plants or other primary producers.
Carnivores
Animals that eat herbivores.
Omnivores
Organisms that eat both plants and animals.
Detritivores
Organisms that obtain energy from organic waste and dead bodies.
Carcass
Dead body of an animal.
Scavenger
An organism that consumes decaying biomass.
Food Web
A complicated, interconnected group of food chains.
Biomass
The dry weight of tissue and other organic matter found in a specific ecosystem.
Predation
The act of one organism feeding on another.
Symbiosis
Two or more different species live together in a close, long-term association.
Parasitism
One organism feeds on another and lives on or in the other.
Predator
An animal that lives by killing and eating other animals.
Apex
Top.
Prey
Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals.
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.
Commensalism
One species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Cooperation
When organisms work together for mutual benefit.
Warning Coloration
Bright color patterns on an animal that serve to warn predators.
Camouflage
A defense strategy that organisms use to hide their appearance.
Opportunistic
Organisms that take advantage of favorable conditions to thrive.
Monogamy
A mating system in which a single male and female mate.
Silage
Fodder made from green foliage crops preserved by fermentation.
Toxin
A poisonous substance.
Exotoxin
Toxic substance secreted by bacteria that enter host cells.
Endotoxin
Toxic substance bound to the bacterial cell wall.
Pesticides
Chemicals used to kill or control forms of life considered nuisances.
Metabolism
All of the chemical reactions that occur in a living organism.
Biological Magnification
The accumulation of certain chemicals in living organisms.
Concentration
The relative amount of a given substance in a solution.
Thermal Stratification
Change in temperature at different depths in a lake.
Terrestrial
Relating to land.
Aquatic
Relating to water.
Aqueous
Relating to water.
Fresh Water
Water that is not salty.
Marine
Relating to salt water.
Salinity
How salty the water is.
Thermodynamics
The relationship between forms of energy.
Niche
An organism’s job in a community.
Fundamental Niche
The entire range of conditions an organism can occupy.
Realized Niche
The part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies.
Gross Primary Productivity
The rate of photosynthesis in an area.
Net Primary Productivity
The biomass left over after photos
Note
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