| A | B |
|---|
| Hypothesis | an educated guess based upon observations |
| scientific theory | a unifying explanation supported by a lot of evidence |
| ecosystem | a combination of abiotic and biotic factors in a specific place |
| abiotic factors | the non-living components of an ecosystem |
| biotic factors | the living components within an ecosystem |
| population | a group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time |
| community | all of the species living in the same place at the same time |
| predation | a relationship between predator and prey |
| commensalism | a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits but the other is unharmed |
| parasitism | a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed |
| mutualism | a relationship in which both organisms benefit |
| symbiosis | a close relationship between two organisms of different species |
| camouflage | blending in with the environment |
| mimicry | a harmless organism looks nearly identical to a harmful organism |
| adaptation | a characteristic or trait that increases the likelihood of survival. Examples: fur, venom |
| natural selection | the idea that organisms who have beneficial traits are more likely to survive and reproduce |
| evolution | change over time |
| producer | an organism that at the base of the food chain; capable of undergoing photosynthesis |
| consumer | an organism that eats a producer (or another organism) |
| autotroph | an organism capable of making its own food |
| heterotroph | an organism that must consume other organisms for food (energy) |
| herbivore | a plant eater |
| carnivore | a meat eater |
| omnivore | eats plants and animals |
| decomposer | an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organic matter |
| photosynthesis | a process in which light energy, water, and carbon dioxide are converted into oxygen and sugar |
| food chain | a linear diagram (straight line) showing what eats what |
| food web | a diagram that shows feeding relationships within an ecosystem |
