1. Ecology Visual Glossary

2. Ecology: The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

3. Biodiversity: A wide variety of living organisms. Example: A Coral Reef

4. Biome: A large region of earth that has similar weather and ecosystems
Biome: A large region of earth that has similar weather and ecosystems. Example: Tropical Rain Forest

5. Ecosystem: An area of living and non-living things interacting with each other. Example: A pond

6. Biotic Factor: A living part of an ecosystem. Example: An eagle

7. Abiotic Factor: A non-living part of an ecosystem. Example: Water

8. Community: All the living species in an ecosystem.

9. Population: All of the individuals of the same species in an ecosystem
Population: All of the individuals of the same species in an ecosystem. Example: Great Horned Owls

10. Niche: The role or the job an organism fills in the ecosystem
Niche: The role or the job an organism fills in the ecosystem. Example: Bats eat insects

11. Producer: An organism that produces its own food from the sun’s energy
Producer: An organism that produces its own food from the sun’s energy. Example: ferns

12. Consumer: An organism that gets its food from other organisms
Consumer: An organism that gets its food from other organisms. Example: Moose

13. Decomposer: An organism that breaks down other organisms
Decomposer: An organism that breaks down other organisms. Example: Fungus, Bacteria, Insects

14. Keystone Species: An organism that maintains the balance of an ecosystem. Example: Salmon

15. Indicator Species: An organism that will be affected first if an ecosystem becomes unhealthy . Example: Frogs

16. Introduced Species: An organism that is introduced into a new ecosystem . Example: American Bullfrog

17. Limiting Factor: Something that affects the growth or survival of an organism or population. Example: Loss of habitat

18. Carrying Capacity: The total number of organisms an ecosystem can support. Example: Pine lake forest can support 4 owls

19. Interdependence: When one organism relies on another organism to survive. Example: Termites need bacteria in their stomach to digest wood.

20. Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Producers
(Plants)
photosynthesis
soil
plant dies
animal eats plant
Decomposers
(Fungus, Bacteria, Insects)
Consumers
(Animals and Fungus)
animal dies
animal eats animal
decomposer dies

21. Food Chain: A one-way single line of energy transfers
Food Chain: A one-way single line of energy transfers. Example: Grass Gazelle Lion

22. Food Web: All of the overlapping energy transfers in an ecosystem .

23. The Water Cycle

24. Watershed: An area of land that all drains to the same place
Watershed: An area of land that all drains to the same place Ex: Lake Sammamish Watershed

25. Symbiotic Relationships: A close association between species .
Helped
Example
Mutualism
Fungus and algae make lichen
Not Affected
Commensalism
The Remora fish and Shark
Hurt
Parasitism
A tick (parasite) and a deer (host)
Killed
Predation
A fox (predator) and a mouse (prey)

26. Symbiotic Relationships: A close association between species .
Helped
Example
Mutualism
Fungus and algae make lichen
Not Affected
Commensalism
The Remora fish and Shark
Hurt
Parasitism
A tick (parasite) and a deer (host)
Killed
Predation
A fox (predator) and a mouse (prey)

27. Symbiotic Relationships: A close association between species .
Helped
Example
Mutualism
Fungus and algae make lichen
Not Affected
Commensalism
The Remora fish and Shark
Hurt
Parasitism
A tick (parasite) and a deer (host)
Killed
Predation
A fox (predator) and a mouse (prey)

28. Symbiotic Relationships: A close association between species .
Helped
Example
Mutualism
Fungus and algae make lichen
Not Affected
Commensalism
The Remora fish and Shark
Hurt
Parasitism
A tick (parasite) and a deer (host)
Killed
Predation
A fox (predator) and a mouse (prey)

29. Symbiotic Relationships: A close association between species .
Helped
Example
Mutualism
Fungus and algae make lichen
Not Affected
Commensalism
The Remora fish and Shark
Hurt
Parasitism
A tick (parasite) and a deer (host)
Killed
Predation
A fox (predator) and a mouse (prey)

30. The Theory of Evolution: The idea that life on Earth has changed over time.

31. Genetic Mutation: Small changes to the DNA due to mistakes while copying.

32. Genetic Variation: Differences in genetic traits.
Examples:
Hair color, eye color, height, etc.

33. Natural Selection: Organisms with more successful traits tend to produce offspring. Organisms with less successful traits tend to die before they reproduce. (The strong survive, the weak die.)
Ex: Giraffes with slightly longer necks can get more food.