1. Principles of Ecology
Ecology

2. Symbiosis
A relationship where there is a close and permanent association among organisms of different species
Symbiosis means “living together”

3. Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other species is unaffected
Example: Shark and a crab. The crab needs the shark to eat fish near the surface of the ocean so pieces of the dead fish fall to the ocean floor for the crab to eat. Crab benefits from the shark, shark is unaffected.

4. Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where two species mutually benefit (help) each other
Example: Ants and the Acacia tree. Ants attack any animals that try to come and feed off the tree. The tree provides nectar and a home for the ants..

5. Parasitism
A relationship in which one organisms benefits at the expense or harm of another organism
Example: Fleas on a dog. The fleas drink the blood from the dog. The dog get bitten, itchy and if bad enough anemic from blood loss.

6. Predator/Prey Predator is an animal that eats another animal
Prey is the animal being eaten by the predator
This is a relationship that is good for one organism and the other ends up dead/eaten
Example: Wolf and a rabbit.

7. Autotroph
An organism that uses energy from the sun or energy from chemical compounds to make their own nutrients
Example: Plants do photosynthesis and some organisms deep in the ocean do chemosynthesis

8. Heterotroph An organism that must feed on other organisms
Some heterotrophs feed on autotrophs (rabbit eating grass)
Some heterotrophs feed on other heterotrophs (fox eating rabbit)

9. Producer A producer is an autotroph Examples: Plants/flowers Trees
Herbs
Grasses
Algae
Some plankton
Some bacteria

10. Consumer An organism that eats other organisms- Heterotroph Examples:
Frog eats bugs
Deer eats grass
Bear eats fish
Slug eats my garden
Human eating an egg

11. Scavenger
Some animals do not kill their own food, instead they eat something that has already died
A scavenger is an animal that feeds on animals that are already dead
Examples: buzzard, vulture, insects, hyenas

12. Decomposers
Organisms that break down, absorb and recycle nutrients from dead organisms
They are important in keeping an ecosystem healthy
Examples: Fungi and bacteria

13. Latin Names
Herbivore- eats plants (rabbit, deer, caterpillar, giraffe)
Carnivore- eats animals (wolf, lion, shark, anteater)
Omnivore- eats both plants and animals (bear, human, monkey)

14. Food Chain
A simple model that scientists use to show how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

15. Food Web
All of the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level
Trophic Level: a step in the food chain or food web.