Ecosystems & Interactions

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, air) in a specific area.

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What is carrying capacity?

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Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably without degrading the habitat.

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a type of ecological interaction where both species benefit from the relationship, such as bees pollinating flowers.

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What is predation?

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Predation is an ecological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

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What is competition in ecology?

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Competition occurs when two or more species or individuals vie for the same resources (like food, water, or space) in an ecosystem.

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What is parasitism?

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Parasitism is an ecological interaction where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host), often harming it.

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What is commensalism?

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Commensalism is an ecological interaction where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, such as barnacles on a whale.

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What is a population?

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A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time.

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What is a community in ecology?

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A community is a group of different species that live together in a particular area and interact with each other.

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What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?

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A habitat is the physical environment where an organism lives, while a niche is the role or function of that organism within its ecosystem.