1. ECOLOGY VOCAB

2. ECOLOGY
THE STUDY OF INTERACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE AMONG ORGANISMS AND BETWEEN THE ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT

3. BIOSPHERE
THE PART OF THE EARTH THAT SUPPORTS LIFE INCLUDING THE LAND, WATER, AND ATMOSPHERE

4. HYDROSPHERE
ALL THE WATER ON EARTH INCLUDING WATER ON THE SURFACE AND IN THE ATMOSPHERE

5. ECOSPHERE
THE PLANETARY ECOSYSTEM INCLUDING ALL ORGANISMS AND THEIR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

6. THE GASEOUS ENVELOPE SURROUNDING THE EARTH
ATMOSPHERE
THE GASEOUS ENVELOPE SURROUNDING THE EARTH

7. ECOSYSTEM
THE INTERACTION OF ORGANISMS (BIOTIC FACTORS) AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT (ABIOTIC FACTORS)

8. LIVING OR ONCE- LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
BIOTIC FACTORS
LIVING OR ONCE- LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

9. ABIOTIC FACTORS
NON-LIVING, PHYSICAL FEATURES IN AN ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS SOIL, SUNLIGHT, TEMPERATURE, AIR, AND WATER

10. ALL THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME SPECIES THAT LIVE IN A GIVEN AREA
POPULATION
ALL THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME SPECIES THAT LIVE IN A GIVEN AREA

11. GROUPS OF POPULATIONS THAT INTERACT TOGETHER IN A GIVEN AREA
COMMUNITY
GROUPS OF POPULATIONS THAT INTERACT TOGETHER IN A GIVEN AREA

12. LIMITING FACTORS
ANY BIOTIC OR ABIOTIC FACTOR THAT RESTRICTS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN A POPULATION

13. SYMBIOSIS
THE LIVING TOGETHER OF TWO DISSIMILAR ORGANISMS IN A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

14. MUTUALISM A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH BOTH SPECIES BENEFIT
EXAMPLE: YUCCA MOTH (POLLINATES YUCCA FLOWER) AND DESERT YUCCA PLANT (GIVES SHELTER AND FOOD TO MOTH)

15. COMMENSALISM
A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH ONE PARTNER BENEFITS BUT DOESN’T HARM OR HELP THE OTHER.
EXAMPLE: CLOWNFISH TAKES SHELTER IN ANEMONES

16. PARASITISM
A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH BENEFITS THE PARASITE AND HARMS THE HOST
EXAMPLE: TAPEWORMS IN HUMANS

17. THE PHYSICAL LOCATION WHERE AN ORGANISM LIVES
HABITAT
THE PHYSICAL LOCATION WHERE AN ORGANISM LIVES

18. NICHE THE ROLE OF AN ORGANISM IN AN ECOSYSTEM
EXAMPLE: WHAT IT EATS, HOW IT GETS FOOD, HOW IT INTERACTS WITH OTHER ORGANISMS

19. AUTOTROPH/ PRODUCER
ORGANISMS THAT CAPTURE ENERGY FROM THE SUN TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN FOOD
Aka PRODUCERS

20. HETEROTROPH/ CONSUMER
ORGANISMS THAT MUST EAT OTHER ORGANISMS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ENERGY
Aka CONSUMERS

21. A diagram of how energy in food flows from one organism to another.
FOOD CHAIN
A diagram of how energy in food flows from one organism to another.

23. A diagram the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem
FOOD WEB
A diagram the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem

25. DECOMPOSER
ORGANISMS THAT BREAK DOWN DEAD ORGANISMS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ENERGY
MAINLY BACTERIA AND FUNGI

26. ORGANISMS THAT KILL AND EAT OTHER ANIMALS
PREDATOR
ORGANISMS THAT KILL AND EAT OTHER ANIMALS

27. ORGANISMS THAT ARE EATEN BY PREDATORS
PREY
ORGANISMS THAT ARE EATEN BY PREDATORS

28. MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL INTERACTION AMONG SPECIES IN AN AREA
COOPERATION
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL INTERACTION AMONG SPECIES IN AN AREA

29. A CONSUMER THAT EATS ONLY PLANTS
HERBIVORE
A CONSUMER THAT EATS ONLY PLANTS

30. A CONSUMER THAT EATS ANIMALS
CARNIVORE
A CONSUMER THAT EATS ANIMALS

31. A CONSUMER THAT EATS BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS
OMNIVORE
A CONSUMER THAT EATS BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS

32. BIODIVERSITY
The existence of many different species of plants and animals in an ecosystem.

33. THE LARGEST POPULATION THAT AN ENVIRONMENT CAN SUPPORT
CARRYING CAPACITY
THE LARGEST POPULATION THAT AN ENVIRONMENT CAN SUPPORT