| A | B |
|---|
| ecology | the interactions of organisms and their environment |
| biosphere | any place on earth where life exists |
| abiotic factors | non-living factors in the environment |
| biotic factors | living things in the environment |
| population | all the members of one species in an area |
| community | all the interacting populations in an area |
| ecosystem | both the abiotic and biotic factors in an area |
| limiting factor | any factor that restricts the number of individuals in a population |
| population density | the size of a population occupying an area of specific size |
| carrying capacity | the largest number of individuals an environment can support and maintain over a long period of time |
| predator | an animal that kills and eats other animals |
| symbiosis | any close relationship between two or more different species |
| mutualism | a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit |
| commensalism | a symbiotic relationship in which on organism benefits and one is not effected |
| parasitism | a symbiotic relationship in which one organsism benefits and the other is harmed |
| habitat | the place where an organism lives |
| niche | the role of an organism in its environment |
| food chain | a simple way of showing how energy from food passes from one organism to another |
| food web | a series of connected food chains |
| ecological succession | the process of gradual change from one community of organism to another |
| pioneer orgamism | the first organism that exists in an area |
| climax community | the final stage of ecological succession |
