| A | B |
|---|
| predation | where an individual of one species eats part or all of an individual of another species |
| competitive exclusion principle | no 2 species can have the same habitat and nich at the same time. 1 winner and 1 loser. |
| symbiosis | a close long-term relationship between 2 organisms |
| parasitism | symbiosis where one is harmed and the other benefits |
| mutualism | sybiosis where both organisms benefit |
| commensalism | symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefits |
| biotic factor | biological or organisms that shape an ecosystem. |
| abiotic factor | physical or nonliving things that shape an ecosystem. |
| niche | the function or "job" of an organism. |
| resource | any necessity of life such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space. |
| ecological succession | the gradual re-growth of a community of species in an area |
| primary sucession | start with no soil and develop a community from there (from bare rock) |
| secondary sucession | start with soil, and develop a community from there (after a fire) |
| pioneer species | the species first on the scene to begin succession (lichens) |
| climax community | the end stage of succession; a stable community |
| weather | the day to day conditions in the atmosphere in a certain time/place. |
| climate | year-to-year conditions in the atmosphere in a certain region. |
| greenhouse effect | natural situation of the warming of the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases. |
| polar zone | where the sun strikes the Earth at a low angle. |
| temperate zone | where the sun strikes the Earth at different angles and creates seasons. |
| tropical zone | where direct sunlight hits the Earth year-round. |
| biome | a group of communities with certain soil/climate conditions and certain plants/animals. |
| tolerance | ability to survive and reproduce under conditions that differ from optimal. |
| microclimate | climate in small areas that differ from climate around it. |
| canopy | dense covering above the rainforest floor. |
| understory | layer below canopy that is shaded and has shorter trees/vines. |
| deciduous | trees that shed leaves seasonally. |
| coniferous | trees that produce cones. |
| humus | material made from decaying leaves and organic matter- makes soil fertile. |
| tiaga | biomes with coniferous trees under the tundra. |
| permafrost | layer of permanently frozen suboil found in tundra. |
| plankton | tiny swimming organisms in fresh and saltwater environments. |
| phytoplankton | single-celled algae supported by nutrients in water and form base of the aquatic food web. |
| zooplankton | plankton animals that feed on phytoplankton. |
| wetland | ecosystem where soil is covered at least part of the year. |
| estuary | wetlands that form where rivers meet the sea. |
| detritus | tiny pieces of organic matter that provide food for organisms at the base of the estuary's food web. |
| salt marsh | termperate-zone estuaries with salt-tolerant grasses above the tide line. |
| mangrove swamp | coastal wetlands in tropical zones with salt-tolerant trees. |
| photic zone | zone in marine ecosystems where light can penetrate and photosynthesis can occur. |
| aphotic zone | below photic zone where it is permanently dark. |
| zonation | prominent horizontal banding of organisms that live in a particular habitat. |
| coastal ocean | from low-tide mark to edge of continental shelf. |
| kelp forest | forests of giant brown alga (seaweed) in the coastal ocean. |
| coral reef | areas with a lot of coral and with the help of algae. |
| benthos | area near the bottom of the ocean. |
