Ecology Flashcards
Biotic
Describes living factors in the environment
Abiotic
physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.
Population
all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.
Community
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
Ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Biosphere
the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms.
Herbivore
an animal that feeds on plants.
Carnivore
an animal that feeds on flesh.
Omnivore
an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.
Food chain
a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.
Food web
a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.
Energy pyramid
a graphical representation designed to show the biomass
Carrying capacity
the number or quantity of people or things that can be conveyed or held by a vehicle or container.
Prey
an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
Predator
an animal that naturally preys on others.