| Words |
 |
|
| Definitions |
|
|
| biosphere |
the part of the earth's crust, waters, and atmosphere that supports life |
| carrying capacity |
The maximum population of a particular organism that a given environment can support |
| commensalism |
A symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected. |
| community |
A group of plants and animals living and interacting with one another in a specific region under relatively similar environmental conditions. |
| consumer |
A heterotrophic organism that feeds on other organisms in a food chain. |
| ecology |
the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. |
| ecosystem |
a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment |
| habitat |
the natural environment of an organism |
| limiting factor |
an environmental factor that tends to limit population size |
| mutualism |
a relationship between two species of organisms in which both benefit from the association. |
| niche |
The function or position of an organism or population within an ecological community. |
| parasitism |
A symbiotic relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other is harmed |
| population |
All the organisms that constitute a specific group or occur in a specified habitat. |
| producer |
an organism, as a plant, that is able to produce its own food from inorganic substances. |
| symbiosis |
the living together of two dissimilar organisms, as in mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism. |
| predator |
An organism that lives by preying on other organisms |
| prey |
an animal hunted or seized for food |
| competition |
the struggle among organisms, both of the same and of different species, for food, space, and other vital requirements |
| chemosyntesis |
the synthesis of organic compounds within an organism, with chemical reactions providing the energy source. |
| food web |
a series of organisms related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions; the entirety of interrelated food chains in an ecological community. |
| energy pyramid |
a depiction of the amount of energy in each trophic level of an ecosystem |
| food chain |
a series of organisms interrelated in their feeding habits, the smallest being fed upon by a larger one, which in turn feeds a still larger one |
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