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Ecology Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ecology | The study of interactions between organisms and their environment. |
| Biosphere | All regions of Earth where life exists; the global ecosystem. |
| Biome | A large geographic region defined by climate and characteristic plants and animals. |
| Population | A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area. |
| Biological community | All populations of different species living and interacting in an area. |
| Ecosystem | A biological community plus its abiotic environment. |
| Biotic factor | A living component of an ecosystem (plants, animals, bacteria). |
| Abiotic factor | A nonliving environmental factor (temperature, water, soil, sunlight). |
| Limiting factor | Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts population growth. |
| Tolerance | The range of environmental conditions an organism can survive and reproduce in. |
| Habitat | The physical environment where an organism lives. |
| Niche | An organism’s role in its ecosystem, including how it uses resources and interacts with others. |
| Predation | An interaction in which one organism (predator) kills and consumes another (prey). |
| Symbiosis | A close, long-term relationship between two different species. |
| Mutualism | A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. |
| Commensalism | A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected. |
| Parasitism | A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the host is harmed. |
| Autotroph | An organism that produces its own food using sunlight or chemical energy (producer). |
| Heterotroph | An organism that must consume other organisms for energy (consumer). |
| Herbivore | A consumer that eats only plants. |
| Carnivore | A consumer that eats other animals. |
| Omnivore | A consumer that eats both plants and animals. |
| Detritivore | An organism that feeds on dead organic matter and waste. |
| Trophic level | A feeding position in a food chain or web. |
| Food chain | A linear pathway showing the transfer of energy through feeding relationships. |
| Food web | A network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. |
| Biomass | The total mass of living organic matter at a given trophic level. |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space; recycled in ecosystems. |
| Nutrient | A chemical substance organisms need for growth and survival. |
| Biogeochemical cycle | The movement of matter through biological, geological, and chemical processes. |
| Nitrogen fixation | The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms by bacteria. |
| Denitrification | The conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere. |
| Community | All interacting populations of different species living in the same area. |
| Ecological succession | The gradual change in species composition of a community over time. |
| Primary succession | Succession that occurs on bare rock with no soil (e.g., after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat). |
| Secondary succession | Succession that occurs after a disturbance where soil remains (e.g., fire, flood). |
| Climax community | A stable, mature community that undergoes little change unless disturbed. |
| Weather | Short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place. |
| Climate | Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in a region. |
| Latitude | Distance north or south of the equator that affects climate and biome distribution. |
| Tundra | Very cold temps, low precipitation, permafrost soil. Plants are short with shallow roots. Animals have thick fur, fat layers, and migrate or hibernate. |
| Boreal forest (Taiga) | Cold winters, moderate precipitation, acidic nutrient-poor soil. Coniferous trees with waxy needles. Animals have thick fur and seasonal behaviors. |
| Temperate forest | Moderate temperatures, high precipitation, fertile soil. Deciduous trees shed leaves. Animals use camouflage, hibernation, or food storage. |
| Woodland (Chaparral) | Hot dry summers, mild wet winters, thin soil. Plants have waxy leaves and fire resistance. Animals are nocturnal and water-efficient. |
| Grassland | Warm summers, cold winters, moderate rainfall, rich soil. Grasses with deep roots. Animals are fast runners, grazers, and burrowers. |
| Desert | Extreme temperatures, very low precipitation, sandy or rocky soil. Plants store water and have spines. Animals are nocturnal and conserve water. |
| Tropical savanna | Warm year-round, seasonal rainfall, compact soil. Grasses with scattered trees. Animals migrate and graze; predators are fast. |
| Tropical dry forest | Warm temps, seasonal rain, fertile soil. Trees drop leaves in dry season. Animals adapt to seasonal food availability. |
| Tropical rain forest | Hot, wet year-round, nutrient-poor soil. Tall trees with drip tips and buttress roots. Animals are arboreal and highly specialized. |
| Wetlands | Water-saturated ecosystems that filter pollutants and reduce flooding. |
| Estuary | Where freshwater mixes with saltwater; highly productive and nutrient-rich. |
| Sediment | Loose particles of soil and organic material at the bottom of water bodies. |
| Plankton | Microscopic organisms that drift in water; base of aquatic food webs. |
| Littoral zone | Shallow, near-shore freshwater area with rooted plants. |
| Limnetic zone | Open, well-lit surface water away from shore in lakes. |
| Profundal zone | Deep freshwater zone with little light. |
| Photic zone | Upper ocean layer where sunlight allows photosynthesis. |
| Aphotic zone | Deep water with no sunlight. |
| Intertidal zone | Coastal area alternately exposed and submerged by tides. |
| Pelagic zone | Open ocean away from shore and bottom. |
| Benthic zone | Ocean floor ecosystem. |
| Abyssal zone | Extremely deep ocean with high pressure and low temperature |
| Scavenger | A consumer that specifically eats recently dead organisms (example: vulture) |
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