Ecology Vocabulary

Organism

A living thing that has all the characteristics of CRAPSHED.

Population

All of a single species in the same area in time.

Community

All organisms (includes different populations) of an ecosystem at the same time.

Ecosystem

All the organisms living in an area as well as the nonliving components.

Biotic

A living thing or was living (must have all of CRAPSHED).

Abiotic

nonliving or never was living

Biosphere

The parts of the Earth that support life, lithosphere, hydrosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere.

Atmosphere

Layer of gases surrounding Earth that support life.

Hydroshpere

All the water in all states of matter (liquid, solid, gas) that support life.

Habitat

where an organism lives

Producer

An organism that makes its own food

Consumer

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms

Scavenger

A carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

food chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Energy pyramid

Shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web

Food web

A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains

CRAPSHED

The 8 characteristics of life.

Cells

Made of one or more cells

Reproduction

An organism that can be able to reproduce

Adaptation

A species that can adapt and evolve over time to be successful in their ecosystem

Parents

Inherits traits or DNA from parents

Stimuli

Responds to stimuli

Homeostasis

maintains homeostasis

Energy

Needs energy

Development

Grows and Develops

photosynthesis

When autotrophs turn sunlight and CO2 into glucose

cellular respiration

when organisms use glucose and oxygen to make energy

Autotroph

When an organism produces their own food

heterotroph

Depends on other organisms for food