| Term | Definition |
|---|
| community | a group of interacting populations that occupy the same area at the same time |
| limiting factor | any abiotic or biotic factor that restricts the numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms |
| ecological succession | the change in an ecosystem that happens when one community replaces another as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors |
| primary succession | the establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have any topsoil |
| climax community | the stable, mature community that results when there is little change in the composition of species |
| secondary succession | the orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of organisms has been removed but the soil has remained intact |
| climate | the average weather conditions in an area, including temperature and precipitation |
| biome | a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of plant communities |
| temperate forest | a biome characterized by deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves each autumn), cold winters, warm springs and hot summers |
| plankton | free-floating photosynthetic autotrophs that live in fresh or ocean waters |
| population density | the number of organisms per unit area |
| population growth rate | the speed at which a population grows or increases |
| emigration | the number of individuals moving away from a population |
| carrying capacity | the maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support for the long term (enough food, water, space) |
| immigration | the number of individuals moving into a population |
| pioneer species | the first species, mainly plants, to grow in an area that has been disturbed |
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