click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ecology cl
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem | All of the organisms that live in an area and the non-living features of their environment. |
| Community | All the populations of all of the species living in an area at one time. |
| Population | All of the members of the one species that live in an area at one time. |
| Competition | Examples of things organisms compete for: food, shelter, territory, and water. |
| Growth Limits | When growth of a population is limited by resources individuals of that species compete for. (Same things individuals compete for food, water, shelter, and territory. |
| Limiting Factors | Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population. (Same as things individuals competed for, plus predators and disease.) [Why? Because this includes Growth Factors plus death factors.] |
| Carrying Capacity | The largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time. |
| Biotic Potential | The highest rate of reproduction under ideal circumstances |
| Habitat | The place in which an organism lives. |
| Niche | An organisms role in its environment: how it obtains food and shelter, finds a mate, cares for its young, avoids danger, etc. |
| Producers | Organisms that use energy from an outside source, usually the Sun, to make energy rich food molecules. |
| Consumers | Organisms that obtain energy by eating at least parts of other organisms. |
| Decomposers | Organisms that break down once living matter to get energy. |
| Parasitism | Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Ex. ticks on a dog. |
| Commensalism | Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other not affected. Ex. hermit crab. |
| Mutualism | Symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit. |
| Predator and Prey | Alligator and snake is an example of predator and prey. |
| Neutralism | Symbiotic relationship in which neither organisms benefit. |