1. Environmental Science Unit 2
Chapter 4: The Organization of Life
Vocabulary

2. Ecosystem
All the organisms living in an area together and their physical environment.

3. Biotic Factor
living and once living organisms.

4. non-living parts of the ecosystem
Abiotic Factor
non-living parts of the ecosystem

5. Organism
an individual living thing.

6. Species
a group of organisms that can mate to produce fertile offspring.
(being able to reproduce)

7. Population
all members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.

8. Community
a group of different species that live in the same place and interact with each other

9. Habitat
the place an organism lives

10. Niche
the unique position occupied by a species, both in terms of its physical use of its habitat and its function within an ecological community

11. Natural Selection
Theory of evolution by Darwin, in which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive to reproduce.

12. Evolution
A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next.

13. Artificial Selection (= made by humans)
The breeding of organisms by humans for selected traits.

14. Resistance
The ability of one or more organisms to tolerate a particular chemical designed to kill it.

15. Archaebacteria
Microscopic single celled organisms that do not have a nuclei and are found in harsh environments.

16. Eubacteria
common microscopic organisms that do not have a nuclei.

17. Fungus
organisms that absorb their nutrients.
(ex: mushrooms, fungus)

18. Protist
A diverse group of one-celled organisms and their many-celled relatives.

19. Gymnosperm
Woody plants that produce seeds, but their seeds are not enclosed in fruits.

20. Angiosperm
Flowering plants that produce seeds in fruit.

21. Invertebrate
Animals that lack backbones.

22. Vertebrate
Animals that have backbones.

23. Adaptation
A change in a trait that improves the chances of success of a population.