Ecology Vocabulary Unit 2

1. Abiotic Factor- Non-living factor that affects an 1. Abiotic Factor- Non-living factor that affects an ecosystem in some way.

2. Mutualism- A type of symbiosis in which both species benefit.

3. Niche- An organism’s role or job in an environment. Niche= Scavenger Niche= Decomposers

4. Logistic Growth- Population growth exhibited when a 4. Logistic Growth- Population growth exhibited when a population’s resources run out and ****growth slows or stops (S-Shaped Curve).

5. Exponential Growth- Population growth exhibited when a population has unlimited resources and is free to reproduce (J-Shaped Curve).

6. Producer- Organism that makes its own food 6. Producer- Organism that makes its own food (bottom of food pyramid): has the most available energy. (Autotroph)

7. Biotic Factor- Living factor that affects an ecosystem in some way.

8. Parasitism- A type of symbiosis in which one 8. Parasitism- A type of symbiosis in which one species benefit and the other is harmed.

9. Symbiosis-. An association between two 9. Symbiosis- An association between two organisms of different species (living closely together).

10. Trophic Level- Level or step in a food chain or 10. Trophic Level- Level or step in a food chain or Food web (troph- food).

11. Density Dependent Factor- A factor affecting an 11. Density Dependent Factor- A factor affecting an ecosystem relative to size (for example: food space, and other limited resources).

12. Consumer- Organism that must get food energy from other sources (higher levels of pyramid). (Heterotroph)

13. Global Warming- An increase in the earth’s 13. Global Warming- An increase in the earth’s average temperature due to harmful pollutants emitted by humans.

14. Learned Behavior- Behavior that is acquired 14. Learned Behavior- Behavior that is acquired through experience (chimpanzee using tools to accomplish task, or classical Conditioning

15. Innate Behavior- Instinctive behavior with which species are born (suckling, hibernation, imprinting).

16. Social Behavior- Behavior among members 16. Social Behavior- Behavior among members of the same species (courtship, and in some cases, territorial or aggressive).

17. Sustainable Practice- Environmentally safe 17. Sustainable Practice- Environmentally safe practice that promotes conservation. Reforestation

18- Density-Independent Factor- A factor affecting an ecosystem regardless of size (for example: weather, climate, and natural disasters.)

19. Gymnosperm- Vascular plant that produces seeds in cones.

20. Carrying Capacity- The maximum number of organisms an environment can support due to available resources. Swarm of locusts exceeding Carrying Capacity

21. Angiosperm- Vascular plant that produces flowers and fruits (seeds contained in an ovary).

22. Xylem- Type of vascular tissue that transports 22. Xylem- Type of vascular tissue that transports water from the roots through the stems to the leaves of a plant.

23. Phloem- Type of vascular tissue that transports 23. Phloem- Type of vascular tissue that transports sugar and other dissolved nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the plant