1. Ecology Vocabulary
Unit 2

2. 1. Abiotic Factor- Non-living factor that affects an
1. Abiotic Factor- Non-living factor that affects an ecosystem in some way.

3. 2. Mutualism- A type of symbiosis in which both species benefit.

4. 3. Niche- An organism’s role or job in an environment.
Niche= Scavenger
Niche= Decomposers

5. 4. Logistic Growth- Population growth exhibited when a
4. Logistic Growth- Population growth exhibited when a population’s resources run out and ****growth slows or stops (S-Shaped Curve).

6. 5. Exponential Growth- Population growth exhibited when a population has unlimited resources and is free to reproduce (J-Shaped Curve).

7. 6. Producer- Organism that makes its own food
6. Producer- Organism that makes its own food (bottom of food pyramid): has the most available energy. (Autotroph)

8. 7. Biotic Factor- Living factor that affects an ecosystem in some way.

9. 8. Parasitism- A type of symbiosis in which one
8. Parasitism- A type of symbiosis in which one species benefit and the other is harmed.

10. 9. Symbiosis-. An association between two
9. Symbiosis- An association between two organisms of different species (living closely together).

11. 10. Trophic Level- Level or step in a food chain or
10. Trophic Level- Level or step in a food chain or Food web (troph- food).

12. 11. Density Dependent Factor- A factor affecting an
11. Density Dependent Factor- A factor affecting an ecosystem relative to size (for example: food space, and other limited resources).

13. 12. Consumer- Organism that must get food energy from other sources (higher levels of pyramid). (Heterotroph)

14. 13. Global Warming- An increase in the earth’s
13. Global Warming- An increase in the earth’s average temperature due to harmful pollutants emitted by humans.

15. 14. Learned Behavior- Behavior that is acquired
14. Learned Behavior- Behavior that is acquired through experience (chimpanzee using tools to accomplish task, or classical Conditioning

16. 15. Innate Behavior- Instinctive behavior with which species are born (suckling, hibernation, imprinting).

17. 16. Social Behavior- Behavior among members
16. Social Behavior- Behavior among members of the same species (courtship, and in some cases, territorial or aggressive).

18. 17. Sustainable Practice- Environmentally safe
17. Sustainable Practice- Environmentally safe practice that promotes conservation.
Reforestation

19. 18- Density-Independent Factor- A factor affecting an ecosystem regardless of size (for example: weather, climate, and natural disasters.)

20. 19. Gymnosperm- Vascular plant that produces seeds in cones.

21. 20. Carrying Capacity- The maximum number of organisms an environment can support due to available resources.
Swarm of locusts exceeding Carrying Capacity

22. 21. Angiosperm- Vascular plant that produces flowers and fruits (seeds contained in an ovary).

23. 22. Xylem- Type of vascular tissue that transports
22. Xylem- Type of vascular tissue that transports water from the roots through the stems to the leaves of a plant.

24. 23. Phloem- Type of vascular tissue that transports
23. Phloem- Type of vascular tissue that transports sugar and other dissolved nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the plant