Ecosystem Review

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, and climate).

A limiting factor is a condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population within an ecosystem.

When a forest is cleared, it typically leads to fewer tree-dwelling animals due to loss of habitat.

Competition occurs when two or more species vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or light.

Symbiosis is a close interaction between two different organisms, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to one or both parties.

The levels of ecological organization include organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, often harming it.

Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.