AP Environmental Science

Predator

An organism that kills and consumes other organisms for food

Prey

An organism that is eaten by another organism

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two species in an ecosystem

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship between two species where they both receive a benefit that results in an increased chance of survival and reproduction

Both species have evolved traits over many generations that aid the relationship

Ex: Honey Guide Bird and Badger

Commensalism

Species interactions in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected by the interaction

Parasitism

When an organism (‘Parasite’) lives on or inside of the other (‘host’).

Parasites harm their hosts, but they very rarely kill them

Competition

When an organism lives on or inside of the other

Intraspecific Competition

When individuals of the same species compete for the same limited resource

Interspecific Competition

When different species compete for the same limited resource

Resource Partitioning

When different species use limited resources in different ways, places, or at different times in an attempt to reduce competition.

Ecotone

The transitional zone between two different types of environmental areas

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms in conjunction with abiotic components of their environments, interacting as a system

Community

All of the populations of different species living and interacting within a particular area

Biotic

all organisms that live together and interact with each other in an environment

Abiotic

The parts of an ecosystem that are non-living