Term | Definition |
ECOLOGY | Study of relationships between living organisms AND their environment. |
BIOSPHERE | ALL life on Earth |
BIOME | Ecological community with distinct (specific) climate |
ORGANISM | An individual that carries out the functions of life |
POPULATION | All the organisms of the same species in a particular ecosystem |
COMMUNITY | Organisms of different species which are found in a single ecosystem |
BIOTIC Ecosystem | Living component organisms in an ecosystem |
ABIOTIC Ecosystem | The non-living components of an ecosystem.
i.e., such as temperature, sunlight, water, minerals |
TERRESTRIAL Environment | Community of organisms and their environment that occurs on land (i.e., desert, forest, grasslands) |
AQUATIC Environment | An ecosystem in a body of water. (i.e., oceans, lakes, rivers) |
PREDATION | One organism (predator) kills another organism (prey) for food |
PARASITISM | An organism (parasite) feeds on another organism, known as the host. The parasite benefits at expense of “host” organism. i.e., Fleas or Ticks on a Dog |
COMPETITION | Two or more species that share similar traits AND require the same resources |
MUTUALISM | A cooperative relationship between two or more species.
BOTH species mutually benefit |
COMMENSALISM | One species benefits without doing harm to the other species |