5 th Period Ecology Vocabulary Coach Andrews

Chandler Top Predator – Predator who has no natural enemies. Pioneer Species – Species of plants that grow on rocks that are the first to inhabit a new ecosystem Secondary Consumer – Animal that eats primary consumers Tertiary Consumer – Carnivore that eats a secondary consumer

Bran Heterotroph – Organism that cannot fix carbon, relies on other food for energy Food Web – Feeding connections in ecological communities Producer – Makes its own food Consumer – Organism that generally obtains food by feeding on other organisms Trophic level – All organisms in a position in a food chain

Heather Herbavore – Feeds only on plants Carnivore – Feeds only on animals Omnivore – Feeds on plants and animals Decomposer – Breaks down dead plants and animals Detrivore – Heterotroph that obtains nutrients by consuming detrites (dead things)

Sam Symbiosis – Interactions between two different organisms Limiting Factors – Factors that control a process such as organism growth. Carrying capacity – Living things that an area can support with out environmental degradation. Commensalism – 1 organism benefits, the other is unaffected Mutualism – 2 organisms benefit off each other.

Trenton Predation – Preying of one animal on others Parasitism – Relationship between two organism in which one benefits and the other is hurt. Abiotic factors – Non living factors Autotroph – Organism that can make its own food Biotic Factors – Living factors

Lanie Primary Succession – Colonization of barren land by a pioneer species Secondary Succession – Sequence of changes that take place after a natural disaster or human act Ecosystem Stability – Refers to the capability of an ecosystem to sustain a food chain Bio Mass – Total mass or weight of all living matter in a given area