Ecology Concepts

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

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Biotic Factors

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Living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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Abiotic Factors

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Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

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Carrying Capacity

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The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely, given the available resources.

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Dynamic Equilibrium

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A state of balance between continuing processes in an ecosystem.

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Ecological Succession

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The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

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Adaptation

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A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

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Food Web

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A complex network of interconnected food chains showing the feeding relationships within an ecosystem.

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Producer

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An organism, such as a plant or algae, that produces its own food through photosynthesis and serves as a source of energy for other organisms in the ecosystem.

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Decomposer

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An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment.