Ecosystems and Biodiversity Definitions
Glossary
Term | Definition | Examples | Image |
Species | Any group of individuals that are capable of interbreeding with each other to produce fertile offspring (animals) |
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Population | A group of living organisms of the same species living in the same location at the same time |
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Community | A group of populations that live and interact in the same ecosystem |
- Rooted in soil containing bacteria and fungi | |
Ecosystem | A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment |
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Abiotic factor | The non-living components of an ecosystem |
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Biotic factor | The living components of an ecosystem |
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Producer | Autotrophs that synthesise organic matter from inorganic materials such as carbon dioxide and water (photosynthesis) |
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Consumer | Heterotrophs that obtain organic matter by consuming plants and other animals |
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Autotroph | An organism which produces its own energy |
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Heterotroph | An organism that consumes other organisms to obtain energy |
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Decomposer | An organism that feeds on the dead remains and wastes of other organisms, thus recycling nutrients in the process |
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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 |
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Mutualism | Describes an interaction between species where both species benefit |
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Commensalism | An interaction between species where one species benefits and the other is unaffected |
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Competition | Interactions where one species benefits while the other is harmed |
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Predation | A type of interaction in which two species each have a harmful influence on the other. This can also occur within a species. |
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Symbiotic relationship | A relationship between two species where at least one species benefits |
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