Ecology Vocabulary

Nonliving parts of the environment

• abiotic

• autotroph

• biodiversity

• biotic

• competition

An organism that produces its own food; captures energy and provides it in a usable form for all other living things on Earth

• abiotic

• autotroph

• biodiversity

• biotic

• competition

The variety of species in an area

• abiotic

• autotroph

• biodiversity

• biotic

• competition

The living parts of the environment

• abiotic

• autotroph

• biodiversity

• biotic

• competition

The struggle between organisms for the same limited resources in a particular area

• abiotic

• autotroph

• biodiversity

• biotic

• competition

An organism that survives by living and feeding on other organisms, but does not kill those other organisms

• carnivore

• herbivore

• decomposer

• host

• parasite

The organism in a parasitic relationship that produces a home and/or food for the parasite

• carnivore

• herbivore

• decomposer

• host

• parasite

An organism, generally a bacteria or fungus that consumes dead organisms and organic wastes;

• carnivore

• herbivore

• decomposer

• host

• parasite

An organism that only eats plants

• carnivore

• herbivore

• decomposer

• host

• parasite

An organism that survives by eating animals

• carnivore

• herbivore

• decomposer

• host

• parasite