Ecology Vocab

Front 1

biosphere

Back 1

The part of earth that supports life including the top portion of Earth's crust, all the waters that cover Earth's surface, and the atmosphere.

Front 2

carrying capacity

Back 2

largest number of individuals of a particular species that an ecosystem can support over time.

Front 3

commensalism

Back 3

a type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is not affected.

Front 4

consumer

Back 4

organism that cannot create its own food

Front 5

ecology

Back 5

study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment.

Front 6

ecosystem

Back 6

all the living organisms and their environment.

Front 7

habitat

Back 7

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

Front 8

limiting factor

Back 8

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

Front 9

mutualism

Back 9

a type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Front 10

niche

Back 10

in an ecosystem, refers to the unique ways an organism survives, obtains food and shelter, an avoids danger.

Front 11

parasitism

Back 11

a type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed.

Front 12

population

Back 12

all the organisms that belong to the same species living in a community.

Front 13

producer

Back 13

organism, such as a green plant or alga, that creates its own food.

Front 14

symbiosis

Back 14

any close relationship between species, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Front 15

community

Back 15

all the populations of different species that live in an ecosystem.