Bio B Unit 4 vocab

ecology

scientific study of interactions among and between organisms and their environment

biosphere

part of earth in which life exists, including land, water, and air or atmosphere.

biome

group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

autotroph

organism that is able to capture sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food

heterotroph

organism that obtains food by consuming other living things

biotic factor

any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

abiotic factor

physical or nonliving factor that shapes an ecosystem

niche

full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and uses those conditions

symbiosis

relationship in which two species live close together

primary succession

succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community are present

secondary succession

type of succession that occurs in an area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances

estuary

kind of wetland formed where river meets ocean

phiotic zone

sunlight reigion near the surface of water

aphiotic zone

dark layer of oceans below the phiotic zone where sunlight does not penetrate

immigration

movement of individuals into an area occupied by existing population

emigration

movement of individuals out of an area

exponential growth

growth pattern in which individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate

logistic growth

growth pattern in which a populations growth slows then stops following a period of exponential growth

carrying capacity

largest number of individuals of a particular species that a certain environment can support

limiting factor

factor that causes population growth to decrease