Environmental Science Unit 2 Chapter 4: The Organization of Life Vocabulary

Ecosystem All the organisms living in an area together and their physical environment.

Biotic Factor living and once living organisms.

non-living parts of the ecosystem Abiotic Factor non-living parts of the ecosystem

Organism an individual living thing.

Species a group of organisms that can mate to produce fertile offspring. (being able to reproduce)

Population all members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.

Community a group of different species that live in the same place and interact with each other

Habitat the place an organism lives

Niche the unique position occupied by a species, both in terms of its physical use of its habitat and its function within an ecological community

Natural Selection Theory of evolution by Darwin, in which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive to reproduce.

Evolution A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next.

Artificial Selection (= made by humans) The breeding of organisms by humans for selected traits.

Resistance The ability of one or more organisms to tolerate a particular chemical designed to kill it.

Archaebacteria Microscopic single celled organisms that do not have a nuclei and are found in harsh environments.

Eubacteria common microscopic organisms that do not have a nuclei.

Fungus organisms that absorb their nutrients. (ex: mushrooms, fungus)

Protist A diverse group of one-celled organisms and their many-celled relatives.

Gymnosperm Woody plants that produce seeds, but their seeds are not enclosed in fruits.

Angiosperm Flowering plants that produce seeds in fruit.

Invertebrate Animals that lack backbones.

Vertebrate Animals that have backbones.

Adaptation A change in a trait that improves the chances of success of a population.