Ecology Vocabulary 2

Carrying Capacity

• A long-lasting, close interaction between different species.

• The maximum number of individuals (population size) that the environment can support.

• A brand new area (in a special circumstance) that happens when new soil or space is formed

• Biotic or abiotic environmental factors that restrict the growth of a population.

Symbiosis

• A long-lasting, close interaction between different species. Includes mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.

• An organism that is captured and consumed by another organism for nourishment

• A system consisting of all of the interactions that occur between the abiotic and biotic factors within an environment

• The ecological role played by an organism. This is an organism’s total way of life.

Mutualism

• A symbiotic relationship that is helpful to both organisms

• A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed

• A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed

• Not a symbiotic relationship

Predator

• An organism that captures and consumes another organism for nourishment

• An organism that is captured and consumed by another organism for nourishment

• An organism within or upon which another organism (parasite, commensal, or mutualist) resides.

• An organism that eats plants for nourishment

Limiting Factor

• A long-lasting, close interaction between different species.

• The maximum number of individuals (population size) that the environment can support.

• A brand new area (in a special circumstance) that happens when new soil or space is formed

• Biotic or abiotic environmental factors that restrict the growth of a population.

Ecological Succession

• Follows a typical ecological sequence. Occurs in an area that once had a full ecological community and soil but was destroyed from a disturbance (forest fire, pollution). It is an area where life had already been established but was destroyed for some reason.

• The changes in an ecological community, in which the mix of species and habitat of an area changes over time. Gradually these communities replace each other until a “Climax community,” like a mature forest is reached. Can be primary or secondary

• The maximum number of individuals (population size) that the environment can support. If a population reaches its carrying capacity, then it must either increase its carrying capacity or stop growing

• Occurs in a brand new area that is lifeless, where there is no soil capable of sustaining life, e.g. after a volcanic eruption or glacier melting. By succession new soil or space is formed

Commensalism

• A symbiotic relationship that is helpful to both organisms

• A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed

• A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed

• Not a symbiotic relationship

Abiotic

• Living

• Living or once living

• Non-living has never lived

• The study of biology

Biotic

• Living

• Living or once living

• Non-living has never lived

• The study of biology

Niche

•  The specific part of the environment that provides all the things that an organism needs

• An organism that is captured and consumed by another organism for nourishment

• An organism within or upon which another organism (parasite, commensal, or mutualist) resides.

• The ecological role played by an organism. This is an organism's total way of life.