Ecology Vocab

Terms in this set (28)

the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms

a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem

a triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem's food chain

an organism that eats only plants

an organism that eats animals

an organsim that eats both plants and animals

organisms that get energy by breaking down dead organisms

an organism that eats all or part of another organism

an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism

variety of life in an ecosystem most commonly measured by the number of species that live in a given area

a realtionship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other

a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

a relationship between two species in which both species benefit

a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed

the unique ways an organism survives, obtains food and shelter, and avoids danger

omnivores that eat dead plants and animals

the evolution of two species that is due to mutual influence, often in a way that makes the relationship more beneficial to both species

organisms that use sunlight directly to make food

organisms that eat other organisms

the part of Earth where life exists

the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment

a community of organsims and their abiotic environment

all the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other

carrying capacity

the largest population that an environment can support at any given time

occurs when two or more organisms seek the same resource at the same time

place where an organism lives and that provides the types of food, shelter, moisture, and temperature needed for survival

limiting factor

anything that can restrict the size of a population, including living and nonliving features of an ecosystem, such as predators or drought

a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area

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