Ecology Vocabulary

All the nonliving things in an ecosystem.

• independent variables

• abiotic factors

• biotic factors

• primary consumers

• apex predators

All the living organisms in an ecosystem.

• biotic factors

• abiotic factors

• consumers

• decomposers

A very close relationship betwee two different species.

• predator

• symbiosis

• consumerism

• abiotic factors

a type of symbiosis where two different types of organisms live 

together for mutual benefit, ex. bees and flowers or clownfish and 

sea anemones

• parasitism

• mutualism

• commensalism

• host

a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is not 

hurt or helped, ex. sharks and remora fish or sea turtle and mollusk

• commensalism

• parasitism

• mutualism

• hostism

a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is 

harmed, ex. ticks and deer or lice and human

• communism

• commensalism

• parasitism

• mutualism

changes to behavior or body parts that help an organism survive, ex. 

excellent eyesight, hibernation behavior, or large lung capacity

• parasitism

• adaptions

• independent variable

• predator

the relationship between a predator and prey

• predation

• commensalism

• mutualism

• parasitism

an animal that hunts and eats another animal (prey)

• fungi

• predator

• adaptation

• decomposer

an animal that is food for another animal (predator)

• prey

• host

• mutualism

• decomposer