| A | B |
|---|
| ecosystem | a place on earth where living things interact with other living and non-living things |
| biotic | refers to the living things in an ecosystem |
| abiotic | refers to the non-living things in an ecosystem |
| species | living things of the same kind that are able to reproduce |
| population | all individuals of one species living in a certain place at the same time |
| community | all populations of different species living and interacting in the same place |
| basic needs | the needs of water, energy, food, oxygen, and suitable living conditions of all living things |
| nutrients | component of food that supplies energy or building material to a living thing |
| organism(s) | living thing(s) |
| symbiosis | the relationship between species where at least one species benefits |
| commensalism | the relationship where one species benefits, and the other species neither benefits nor is harmed |
| mutualism | the relationship where both species benefit |
| parasitism | the relationship where one species benefits and the other species is harmed |
| adaptation | a change in an organism that makes it suited to a particular enviroment |
| consumer | living thing that relies on other living things for food |
| carnivore | animal that feeds on other animals or animal parts |
| herbivore | animal that feeds on plants or plant-like living things |
| omnivore | animal that feeds on both animals and plants |
| producer | living thing at the beginning of a food chain capable of making its own food |
| photosynthesis | process by which plants use light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to make their own food |
| cellular respiration | the process in which cells break down sugar particles into carbon dioxide, water, and energy |
| scavenger | organism that feeds off the remains of dead animals that are killed by other consumers |
| decomposers | living thing that breaks down dead animal and plants or animal and plant wast |
| food chain | pathway of energy flow from one living thing to another in an ecosystem |
| food web | link-up of all possible food chains in an ecosystem |
| cycle | circulation of matter in nature; repeating pattern of growth or actions |
| water cycle | the natural circulation of water from the surface of Earth to the atmosphere and back to the surface again |
| carbon cycle | the circulation and recycling of carbon in nature |
| bioinvasion | accidental or planned introduction of a non-native species into a community |
| competiton | involves more than one living thing trying to reach the same goal |
| predation | an animal that gets its food by killing and eating other organisms |
| prey | organism that is hunted by predators |
| pioneer species | first species to be established in a certain habitat |
| succession | a pradictable pattern of change in the make-up of an ecosystem |
| primary succession | formation of a new community in what was once a barren habitat |
| climax community | generally stable community that has a wide range of species; the temporary end of succession |
| extinct | describes a species that no longer exists anywhere on Earth |
| endangered | describes a species that is so rare that it is in danger of disappearing, or becoming extinct |
| threatened | describes a species whose numbers are declining |
| ecological footprint | a measurement of the amount of materials and energy each person uses every day |
| secondary succession | formation of a new community in a destroyed or greatly changed community |
