Ecology Unit Vocab

Lab Biology - Mr. Kretzmer CNHS

ECOLOGY

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment

BIOSPHERE

Part of earth that life exists in

SPECIES

A group of organisms that can breed

NICHE

A range of qualities needed for an organism to live

POPULATION

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area

COMMUNITY

Different populations living in the same area

ECOSYSTEM

All organisms that live together

BIOME

A group of ecosystems sharing the same climate

AUTOTROPHS (PRODUCERS)

Organism that captures energy from sunlight or chemicals and uses it as their own food

HETEROTROPHS (CONSUMERS)

Organism that obtains energy by only eating other living organisms

HERBIVORES

Organisms that only eat plants

CARNIVORES

Organisms that only eat meat

OMNIVORES

Organisms that eat both plants and meat

DECOMPOSERS

Organism that creates energy by breaking down dead matter

LIMITING FACTOR

Factor that causes population decrease

DENSITY DEPENDENT

Limiting factor that depends on populations density

DENSITY INDEPENDENT

Limiting factor that affects all populations regardless of density

CARRYING CAPACITY

Largest number of organisms that an environment can hold

PREDATION

Interaction where a predator catches and eats prey

SYMBIOSIS

Relationship in where two organisms are always close

MUTUALISM

A relationship where both organisms benefit from each other

COMMENSALISM

A relationship where one organism helps another and in turn isnt help or harmed

PARASITISM

A relationship where one organism is helped at the cost of harming the other