Intro to Ecology Vocabulary 1

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

• ecology
• biosphere
• biotic factor
• abiotic factor

part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, air or atmosphere 

• biotic Factor
• biosphere
• ecology

Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interacts

• Autotroph
• Biotic fractor
• Primary Producer
• Abiotic Factor

Physical or non living, factor that shapes an ecosystem

• Abiotic Factor
• Biotic Factor
• Autotroph
• Primary producer

Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals, use it to produce its food from inorganic compound, called producer 

• Primary Producer
• Autotroph
• Heterotroph
• consumer

first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

• secondary producer
• primary producer
• autotroph
• parasitism

process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

• photosynthesis
• zooplankton
• trophic level
• biomass

organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer

• autotroph
• heterotroph
• mutualism
• trophic level

organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph

• biosphere
• autroph
• primary producer
• consumer

photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

• phytoplankton
• mutualism
• zooplankton
• trophic level