Ecology Vocabulary

What is flora and fauna?

• plants and trees

• animals and insects

• plants and animals

the plant life in a particular environment

• Fauna

• Pacific Rim

• Flora

• Maritime

What is the term for the non-living components of an ecosystem, such as sunlight and water?

• Biotic

• Abiotic

• Symbiotic

• Parasitic

Which term describes a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance?

• Dominant species

• Keystone species

• Endangered species

• Invasive species

What is the term for the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem?

• Habitat

• Niche

• Community

• Population

Which term refers to the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time?

• Evolution

• Succession

• Migration

• Adaptation

What is the term for a relationship between two species where both benefit?

• Parasitism

• Commensalism

• Mutualism

• Competition

Which term describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely?

• Carrying capacity

• Population density

• Biotic potential

• Ecological footprint

What is the term for the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem?

• Biodiversity

• Biomass

• Biogeography

• Biosphere

Which term refers to the process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water?

• Respiration

• Photosynthesis

• Transpiration

• Fermentation