Ecology Vocabulary

What is ecology?

• the study of life

• the study of the interactions (connections) among living things, and between living things and their environment

• the study of fossils, embryos, homologous structures and how they are evidence of our evolution from a common ancestor

• the study of atoms, molecules, organelles and cells

Nonliving components of the environment.

• abiotic

• biotic

A single, individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

• species

• population

• virus

• organism

Large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystems.

• biome

• habitat

• biosphere

• population

An organism’s way of life (role in its environment), the unique ways an animal survives, finds food and shelter, and avoids danger.

• producer

• consumer

• habitat

• niche

Any biotic or abiotic factors that limits or restricts the existence of organisms

• habitat

• limiting factors

• organism

• temperature

organisms that make their own food. (bottom of the food chain).

• decomposer

• producer

• consumer

• scavenger

a type of consumer that eats only plants

• decomposer

• producer

• herbivore

• carnivore

an animal that eats other animals

• producer

• decomposer

• herbivore

• carnivore

An animal that eats plants and other animals

• omnivore

• producer

• consumer

• herbivore