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Unit 1 - Ecology
plum oblock o'block unit 1 ecology
36
Environmental Studies
8th Grade
03/22/2012

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Term
habitat
Definition
- the place where an organism lives
- an area that provides an organism with its basic needs for survival
Term
ecology
Definition
the study of interactions among organisms and their environment
Term
symbiosis
Definition
a close and often long-term interaction between different biological species
Term
population
Definition
organisms of one species living together in the same place at the same time
Term
community
Definition
all of the populations in an ecosystem
Term
predator
Definition
an organism that feeds on others - it has other organisms below it on the food chain
Term
prey
Definition
an organism that is food for others - it has other organisms above it on the food chain
Term
cooperation
Definition
when different individuals perform different tasks required for the survival of the entire group
Term
producer
Definition
organisms that use an outside energy source to make energy rich molecules (food)
Term
consumer
Definition
- an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.
Term
limiting factor
Definition
anything that limits the number of individuals living in a population
Term
niche
Definition
The role a species plays within a community
Term
mutualism
Definition
a type of symbiotic relationship that benefits both species
Term
commensalism
Definition
a type of symbiotic relationship that benefits only one of the species
Term
parasitism
Definition
a type of symbiotic relationship that benefits one species and harms the other
Term
predator and prey
Definition
a relationship in which one organism eats the other for food
Term
exponential growth
Definition
growth by doubling - "the larger the population gets, the faster it grows"
Term
carrying capacity
Definition
the largest number of individuals of one species than an ecosystem can support over time
Term
food chain
Definition
the simple model of a feeding relationship in an ecosystem
Term
competition
Definition
when two or more organisms need the same resource at the same time - it is highest between members of the same species
Term
biosphere
Definition
- the zone of life on Earth
- the top portion of the Earth's crust, all the water that covers Earth's surface, and the surrounding atmosphere
Term
herbivores
Definition
plant eaters such as deer and rabbits
Term
ominivores
Definition
organisms that eat both plants and animals
Term
carnivores
Definition
meat eaters such as tigers and frogs
Term
ecosystem
Definition
consists of all the organisms living in an area and the nonliving features of the environment
Term
biology
Definition
the scientific study of LIFE.
Term
biome
Definition
a large area or geographical region with distinct plant and animal groups adapted to that environment
Term
competition
Definition
when individuals or groups of organisms compete for similar resources such as territory, mates, water and food.
Term
decomposer
Definition
an organism that obtains nutrients by consuming dead and decaying organic matter.
Term
carnivores
Definition
meat eaters - at or near the top of the food chain
Term
herbivores
Definition
plant eaters - the second step of the food chain, just above producers
Term
producers
Definition
plants or algae - the first step in a food chain
Term
food web
Definition
a way of showing all possible feeding relationships in a community
Term
10% of energy
Definition
the amount of energy that gets transfered to each level of an energy pyramid
Term
food chain
Definition
a simple model that shows feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
ex. plant is eaten by mouse, mouse is eaten by snake, snake is eaten by hawk
Term
food pyramid
Definition
a model of feeding relationships that shows that organisms lower on the food chain occur in higher numbers than those at the top
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