Ecosystems Essential Question: How do organisms interact with and respond to components of their environment?
Vocabulary SpeciesCompetition PopulationCoexistence CommunityCooperation EcosystemSymbiosis HabitatCommensalism NicheParasitism BioticMutualism Abiotic
Concept How populations are affected in ecosystems; Relationships among populations.
Species Group of organisms that share characteristics and can breed with one another. Example: white-tailed deer.
Population All the members of a species living in a certain area. Example: white-tailed deer in a forest.
Community All the populations of different species living in an area. Example: white-tailed deer, chipmunks, trees, fungi, insects living in a forest.
Ecosystem All the living AND nonliving parts of an environment, plus how they interact. Terrestrial – land (forest, desert, grassland.) NC’s main ecosystem – temperate deciduous forest. Freshwater – rivers, lakes, wetlands. Many are found in NC. Marine – salty ocean water.
Habitat The place/home where an organism lives. Example: a rotting log is a habitat for insects, worms, and fungi.
Niche How an organism acts (the role it plays) in an ecosystem.
Biotic Factor The LIVING factors in an ecosystem. Example: all the plants, fungi, and animals in a forest.
Abiotic Factor All the NONliving factors in an ecosystem. Example: light, temperature, weather, soil, water.
Competition Members of a population & community compete for what they need to survive: Water, space, sunlight, food.
Coexistence Members of a community living together, but not affecting the other’s survival in the ecosystem.
Cooperation Members of a population working together for survival.
Symbiosis A close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of them.
Commensalism One species benefits; the other is not affected. Example: egret & cattle
Parasitism One organism lives in/on another organism and harms it. The parasite lives in/on the host. Example: fleas, ticks, leeches.
Mutualism Both species benefit from the interaction.