Term | Definition |
biotic factor | Any living or once-living organism in the environment. |
biome | A large region of land with a distinct climate and certain types of plant and animal life. |
commensalism | Relationship between species in which one species is helped and the other is unaffected. |
abiotic factor | Any non-living part of the environment, such as water, sunlight, temperature or air. |
population | All of the individuals of one species that live in the same space at the same time. |
population density | Number of individuals in a population that occupies an area of limited size. |
mutualism | Relationship between two species in which both species benefit. |
ecosystem | All of the communities in a given area and the abiotic factors that affect them. |
community | All of the populations of different species in a given area that interact in some way and depend on one another for food, shelter, and other needs. |
limiting factor | Any biotic or abiotic factor that limits the number of individuals in a population |
parasitism | Relationship between species in which one species benefits and the other is harmed but not usually |
organism | A living thing. |
biosphere | Part of Earth that supports life – the top part of Earth’s crust, all the waters covering Earth’s surface, and the surrounding atmosphere; includes all biomes, ecosystems, communities, and populations. |
symbiosis | A close relationship between two organisms. |
species | A group of organisms that can mate and produce offspring that in turn can produce more offspring |
habitat | An environment that provides the things an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce |
carrying capacity | The maximum number of organisms of a particular species that can be supported in a given environment |
ecology | The study of interactions among organisms and their environment |