Interactions Within Ecosystems

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including both living and nonliving components.

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Example: An ecosystem includes animals, plants, and their environment interacting together.

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Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

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Community

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All the different populations of various species that live together and interact within a particular area or habitat.

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Example: Different species like birds, fish, and mammals living together in a pond ecosystem.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of individuals belonging to the same species that live in the same geographical area at the same time.

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Example: A variety of animals living together in a pond ecosystem shows a population in a shared habitat.

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Symbiosis Noun

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[sim-bee-oh-sis]

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Symbiosis

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A close and long-term interaction between two different biological species, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

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Example: Ants protect aphids for honeydew, showing mutualistic symbiosis.

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Mutualism Noun

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[myoo-choo-uh-liz-uhm]

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Mutualism

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A type of symbiotic relationship where both of the interacting species benefit from their association with each other.

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Example: Ants protect aphids in exchange for honeydew, showing mutualism.

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Pollination Noun

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[pol-uh-ney-shuhn]

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Pollination

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The process of transferring pollen grains from the male part of a flower to the female part, enabling fertilization.

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Example: A bee transfers pollen from one flower to another, showing pollination.

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Commensalism Noun

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[kuh-men-suh-liz-uhm]

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Commensalism

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A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is not significantly helped or harmed by it.

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Example: A bird benefits by eating insects stirred up by a cow, which is unaffected.

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Epiphytes Noun

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[eh-puh-fites]

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Epiphytes

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Plants that grow on other plants, such as tree trunks, for physical support without being parasitic to them.

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Example: Epiphytes growing on tree branches, showing how they use other plants for support without harming them.

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Parasitism Noun

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[par-uh-si-tiz-uhm]

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Parasitism

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A symbiotic relationship where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, known as the host.

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Example: Ticks on a dog and cat show parasitism, where ticks benefit and the animals are harmed.

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Parasite Noun

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[par-uh-sahyt]

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Parasite

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An organism that lives in or on another organism, the host, and benefits by deriving nutrients at its expense.

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Example: A tick on a dog shows how a parasite lives on a host, taking nutrients.