Ecological Relationships

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Ecology Noun

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[ee-kol-uh-jee]

Back

Ecology

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The branch of biology studying the interactions among organisms and their relationship with the physical environment.

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Example: Energy flows from the sun to plants, then to animals that eat them, and finally to decomposers, with some energy lost as heat at each step.

Front

Abiotic Factor Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

Back

Abiotic Factor

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A non-living physical or chemical component of an ecosystem that influences living organisms and their functioning.

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Example: This diagram defines abiotic factors as non-living ecosystem components and provides six clear examples: wind, water, sunlight, atmosphere, soil, and temperature.

Front

Biotic Factor Noun

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[bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

Back

Biotic Factor

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A living or once-living component of an ecosystem, such as an animal, plant, fungus, or microorganism.

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Example: Biotic factors are all the living parts of an ecosystem, including animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and archaea, as shown in the examples.

Front

Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same geographical area and can interbreed.

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Example: This diagram shows a large group of individuals inside a circle, representing the total population of a group being studied.

Front

Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

Back

Community

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All the different populations of various species living and interacting within a particular area or habitat.

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Example: This food web shows a community by illustrating how different populations of living things (plants and animals) live together and interact in a desert habitat.

Front

Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

Back

Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, functioning together as a single unit.

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Example: This image incorrectly shows a 'Learning Ecosystem,' a business concept, instead of a biological ecosystem with living organisms and their non-living environment.

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Biome Noun

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[bahy-ohm]

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Biome

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A large, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, such as a forest or tundra.

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Example: This image shows nine different examples of biomes, such as deserts and rainforests, to illustrate that a biome is a large community of specific plants and animals.

Front

Biosphere Noun

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[bahy-oh-sfeer]

Back

Biosphere

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The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements.

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Example: This diagram shows that the biosphere is the part of Earth where life exists, combining the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), and hydrosphere (water).

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Carrying Capacity Noun

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[kar-ee-ing kuh-pas-i-tee]

Back

Carrying Capacity

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The maximum population size of a biological species that can be sustained indefinitely by a given environment.

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Example: An environment (bucket) can only support a certain population (water level). Reproduction adds to the population, while limiting factors cause it to overflow.

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Limiting Factor Noun

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[lim-i-ting fak-ter]

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Limiting Factor

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An environmental resource or constraint that restricts the size, growth, or distribution of a population.

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Example: This diagram shows a chemical reaction where hydrogen (H₂) is the limiting reactant, as it runs out before the oxygen (O₂), limiting how much water is made.