Biotic vs Abiotic Conditions & Coevolution

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to biotic and abiotic conditions, coevolution, and natural selection concepts.

Biotic

Relating to life, includes living organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Abiotic

Non-living components of the environment, including water, temperature, light, geology, atmosphere, wind, and chemical elements.

Natural Selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Coevolution

The process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other, often leading to adaptations.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological species, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including all of its interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Habitat

The natural environment in which a species lives, characterized by physical conditions and resources.

Competition

An interaction between organisms or species, in which both are harmed, as they vie for the same resources.

Competitive Exclusion

The principle that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist if other ecological factors are constant.

Niche Partitioning

The process by which competing species evolve to use different resources or occupy different niches to reduce competition.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction, such as plants and their pollinators.

Predator/Prey Coevolutionary Arms Race

The dynamic interaction between predators and prey, where adaptations in one species lead to adaptations in the other.