Ecosystems and Biodiversity Definitions

Species

Any group of individuals that are capable of interbreeding with each other to produce fertile offspring (animals)

Population

A group of living organisms of the same species living in the same location at the same time

Communities

A group of populations that live and interact in the same ecosystem

Ecosystem

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Abiotic Factor

The non-living components of an ecosystem

Biotic Factor

The living components of an ecosystem

Producer

Autotrophs that synthesise organic matter from inorganic materials such as carbon dioxide and water (photosynthesis)

Consumer

Heterotrophs that obtain organic matter by consuming plants and other animals

Autotroph

An organism which produces its own energy

Heterotroph

An organism that consumes other organisms to obtain energy

Decomposer

An organism that feeds on the dead remains and wastes of other organisms, thus recycling nutrients in the process

Parasite

An organism of one species that lives in or on another organism (it’s host, deriving nutrients at the expense of the other. One species benefits, one species is harmed

Mutualism

Describes an interaction between species where both species benefit

Communalism

An interaction between species where one species benefits and the other is unaffected

Competition

Interactions where one species benefits while the other is harmed

Predation

A type of interaction in which two species each have a harmful influence on the other. This can also occur within a species

Symbiotic Relationship

A relationship between two species where at least one species benefits