Ecology Definition: The study of living organisms, their ways of survival and their surrounding environment

Biomes/Ecoregions Definition: A broad geographical area A particular climate, physical features, or particular species are found in a specific region Example: mountain, prairie, ocean, forest, desert

ECOSYSTEMS Definition: A community of interacting species and its dependence on the surrounding environment Example: A marsh is a moist area typically populated with frogs and birds due to the insects available for food. Cattails and other wild grasses grow there and protect frogs and birds through camouflage. Deer use this area for homes.

BIODIVERSITY Definition: A variety of life Bio (living/life) diversity (variety) Example: tigers, panthers, house cat, cougars

Species... Definition: Different life forms Example: flowers/plants, humans, cats, primates, trees

INDIVIDUAL One single organism of a species Example: brother and sister, the runt of a litter, one family member having freckles

POPULATION Definition: Example: cats having kittens, rabbits reproducing various times in one season, humans who have brothers/sisters Groups of individuals from the same species reproducing to survive

COMMUNITY Definition: Different populations interacting with other species and non-living things within the same living space to survive Example: mosquitos like moist warm air around the marsh, the frogs eat the mosquitos in the marsh, frogs like the lily pads to travel or rest, frogs use the cattails for camouflage to protect them from being eaten

TROPHIC LEVELS Definition: The organization of energy in an ecosystem Example of Trophic Levels: (remember the levels are like a pyramid) Tertiary Consumer- Top of the chain (eagle/human) Secondary Consumer (Weasles) Primary Consumer (Mole/Vole/Mouse) Producer(plants, seeds)

ENERGY Definition: The ability to do work Energy is lost as each level progresses on the food chain 10% of energy is lost Typically there are 4-6 levels in a food chain

PRODUCER Definition: Living organisms that produce its own food/energy Example: plants/trees/grass

CONSUMER Definition: Living organisms that feed off of other living organisms to survive Example: people, animals

DECOMPOSER Definition: Eats and breaks down dead material left in an ecosystem. Provides nutrients to aide the ecosystem. Example fungus, worms, bacteria, detrivores