Ecology and Ecosystems Concepts

Part of Earth that supports life, including the top portion of Earth's crust, the atmosphere, and all the water on Earth's surface

• biosphere

• ecosystem

• habitat

• community

All populations of different species that live in an ecosystem

• biosphere

• ecosystem

• habitat

• community

The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

• ecosystem

• ecology

• ecologist

• niche

All the living organisms that live in an area and the nonliving features of their environment.

• ecosystem

• ecology

• ecologist

• niche

Place where an organism lives and that provides the types of food, shelter, moisture and temperature needed for survival.

• biosphere

• carrying capacity

• community

• habitat

Organism, such as a green plant or alga, that uses an outside source of energy like the Sun to create energy-rich food molecules

• consumer

• producer

• abiotic

• biotic

Organism that cannot create energy-rich molecules but obtains its food by eating other organisms

• consumer

• producer

• abiotic

• biotic

Any close relationship between species, including mutualism, commensalism and parasitism

• population

• niche

• symbiosis

• abiotic