Ch. 4 Key Terms Flashcards
Ecosystem
All organisms living in an area together with their physical environment.
Biotic Factor
Organisms including, animals, fungi, bacteria, and plants. Biotic factors also include dead organisms.
Abiotic Factor
Nonliving parts of the ecosystem such as air, water, rocks, sand, light, and temperature.
Organism
An individual living thing.
Species
A group of organisms that can mate to produce fertile offspring.
Population
A group of the same species that live in the same place.
Community
A group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other.
Habitat
The place an organism lives.
Natural Selection
The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce with more success than less well-adapted individuals do.
Evolution
A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next.
Adaptation
An inherited trait that increases an organism’s chance of survival and reproduction in a certain environment.
Artificial Selection
The selective breeding of organisms by humans for specific characteristics.
Resistance
The ability of one or more organisms to tolerate a particular chemical designed to kill it.
Archaea
Often found in extreme places, such as hot springs.
Bacteria
Are very common and can be found in many places, including soil and animal bodies.
