Chapter 18 Flashcards
Biotic
Describes living factors in the environment
Ecology
The study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment
Abiotic
Describes the non living part of the environment including water, rocks, light, and temperature
Population
A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area
Community
All the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.
Ecosystem
A community of organisms and their abiotic environment
Biosphere
The part of Earth where life exists
Herbivore
An organism that eats only plants
Carnivore
An organism that eats animals
Omnivore
An organism that eats both plants and animals
Food chain
The pathway f energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms
Food web
A diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem
Energy pyramid
A triangular diagram that shows an ecosystems loss of energy which results as energy passes through the ecosystems food chain
Carrying capacity
The largest population that an environment can support at any given time
Prey
An organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
Predators
An organism that eats all or part of another organism
Symbiosis
A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other
Mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Commensalism
A relationship between two organisms in which one organisms benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitism
A relationship between two species in which one species the parasite benefits from the other species the host which is harmed
Coevolution
The evolution of two species that is due to mutual influence often in a way that makes the relationship more beneficial to both species
