Term	Definition
Abiotic	Nonliving parts of the environment (e.g., sunlight, water, temperature).
Ammonification	Decomposers convert organic nitrogen into ammonia.
Autotroph	An organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis.
Biodiversity	The variety of living organisms in an area.
Biomass	Total mass of living organisms in a given area.
Biomes	Large regions characterized by specific climate and organisms.
Biotic	Living or once-living components of an ecosystem.
Camouflage	Adaptation that helps an organism blend with its surroundings.
Carnivore	Organism that eats only other animals.
Carrying Capacity	Maximum number of individuals an environment can support.
Character Displacement	Evolutionary changes that reduce competition between species.
Climax Community	A stable and mature ecosystem that undergoes little change in species.
Combustion	Burning of substances, releasing energy and carbon dioxide.
Commensalism	A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
Community	All populations living together in a specific area.
Competition	When organisms vie for the same limited resources.
Competitive Exclusion	One species outcompetes and excludes another from a niche.
Consumer (1°, 2°, 3°)	Organisms that eat producers or other consumers.
Decomposer	Organism that breaks down dead organisms and recycles nutrients.
Denitrification	Process where bacteria convert nitrates to nitrogen gas.
Density-Dependent Limiting Factor	Effects increase with population size (e.g., disease).
Density-Independent Limiting Factor	Effects occur regardless of population size (e.g., flood).
Desert	A dry biome with little rainfall and sparse vegetation.
Detritus	Dead organic material.
Detritivore	Organism that consumes detritus (dead matter).
Ecosystem	A community and its physical environment interacting as a system.
Ectoparasite	Parasite that lives on the outside of its host.
Endangered Species	Species at risk of extinction.
Endoparasite	Parasite that lives inside its host.
Energy Pyramid	Diagram showing energy loss at each trophic level.
Environment	All living and nonliving things around an organism.
Evaporation	Process of water turning into vapor.
Extinction	The complete loss of a species.
Food Chain	Linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass.
Food Web	Complex network of food chains in an ecosystem.
Fossil Fuel	Nonrenewable energy source formed from ancient organisms.
Grassland	Biome with fertile soil and moderate rainfall, dominated by grasses.
Greenhouse Effect	Trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
Ground Water	Water stored underground in soil and rock.
Habitat	The place where an organism lives.
Herbivore	Organism that eats only plants.
Heterotroph	Organism that obtains food by consuming others.
Invasive Species	Non-native species that spreads and harms native ecosystems.
Mimicry	Adaptation where one organism resembles another.
Mutualism	A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.
Niche	An organism’s role in its environment.
Nitrification	Bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates/nitrites.
Nitrogen Fixation	Bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.
Nonnative Species	Species introduced to an ecosystem where it is not native.
Omnivore	Organism that eats both plants and animals.
Ozone Layer	Protective layer in the atmosphere that blocks UV radiation.
Parasitism	A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.
Physical Defense	A defense mechanism like thorns or shells.
Pioneer Species	First species to colonize barren areas.
Population	Group of individuals of the same species in a given area.
Precipitation	Water that falls to Earth (rain, snow, etc.).
Predator	An organism that hunts and eats other organisms.
Prey	Organism that is hunted and eaten.
Primary Succession	Ecosystem development starting from bare rock, no soil.
Producer	Organism that makes its own food, usually a plant.
Rainforest	Biome with high rainfall and dense vegetation.
Resource Partitioning	Species dividing resources to reduce competition.
Saprophyte	Organism that feeds on decaying organic matter.
Scavenger	Animal that consumes dead animals.
Secondary Compound	Chemical produced by plants to deter herbivores.
Secondary Succession	Ecosystem recovery after a disturbance (soil remains).
Species Diversity	Variety of species in a community.
Species Evenness	How evenly individuals are distributed among species.
Species Richness	The number of different species in an area.
Symbiosis	Close relationship between two different species.
Temperate	Describes regions with moderate temperatures.
Deciduous Forest	Biome with trees that lose leaves annually.
Taiga	Cold, forested biome with conifers.
Transpiration	Evaporation of water from plant leaves.
Trophic Levels	Levels of energy transfer in an ecosystem.
Tropical	Regions near the equator with warm temperatures.
Rainforest	Dense forest found in tropical areas with high rainfall.
Tundra	Cold, treeless biome with frozen soil (permafrost).

Untitled Flashcards Set

🌿 ECOLOGY FLASHCARDS – FULL SET (103 TERMS)