1.
Adaptation: An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival.
2.
Autotroph (producer): Any organism that produces organic compounds from inorganic compounds, usually through photosynthesis.
3.
Bacteria: A prokaryotic (single-celled) organism that acts as a decomposer. It gets the nutrients it needs by breaking down dead organisms.
4.
biomass: The total mass of living matter in a given unit area
5.
Carnivores (secondary consumers): They eat the primary consumers as their source of food.
6.
Coevolution: The process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other.
7.
commensalism: A symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which one individual benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed.
8.
Denitrification: The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.
9.
Ecology: The study of environments.
10.
Ecosystem: An environment that includes all of the biotic and abiotic compounds that surround an organism.
11.
Eutrophication: The process by which a body of water becomes too rich in dissolved nutrients, leading to plant growth that depletes oxygen.
12.
food chain: Indicates the transfer of energy from producers through a series of organisms which feed upon each other.
13.
food web: A series of interrelated food chains.
14.
Herbivores (primary consumers): They use the producer organisms to provide them with their food.
15.
heterotroph (consumer): Organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes.
16.
Infiltration: The slow passage of a liquid through a filtering medium.
17.
leaching: Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
18.
mutualism: A relationship between individuals of different species that benefits both organisms.
19.
Natural Selection: A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.
20.
parasitism: A symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which one individual, the parasite, benefits to the harm of the other organism, the host.
21.
Population: All individuals of a species in a given area.
22.
runoff: Water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground
23.
Species: A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
24.
Symbiosis: Relationships that exist between individuals of different species, where at least one party benefits from the relationship.