4.1 Ecology Vocabulary

Abiotic Factor

• A living component of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.

• A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, temperature, wind patterns, and precipitation.

• A type of biotic factor that affects living organisms.

• A measure of biodiversity in an ecosystem.

Organism

• An individual living thing, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist, or fungus.

• A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

• A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as water or soil.

• A type of cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Community

• A group of individuals living in isolation.

• An assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area.

• A collection of unrelated species in a habitat.

• A network of organisms that compete for resources.

Biosphere

• The global sum of all ecosystems, including all life forms and their relationships.

• A term used to describe the Earth's atmosphere only.

• The study of living organisms in isolation from their environment.

• A specific region of the Earth where only plants exist.

Density

• The mass of an object divided by its volume.

• The number of individuals per unit area or volume.

• The total volume of a substance divided by its mass.

• The weight of an object in a given space.

Habitat

• The natural environment in which an organism lives.

• The physical environment that surrounds a species population.

• The area where a species is most commonly found.

• The natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds a species population.

Biome

• A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

• A small area with a specific climate and vegetation.

• A type of ecosystem that is artificially created by humans.

• A geographical region defined by its geological features.

Biotic Factor

• A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as water and minerals.

• A living component of an ecosystem; for example, plants, animals, and microorganisms.

• The physical environment in which organisms live.

• The interactions between different species in an ecosystem.

Resource

• A substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction.

• A type of energy that can be harnessed for various uses.

• A tool used by organisms to interact with their environment.

• A chemical compound that is essential for life.

Ecosystem

• A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

• A group of unrelated species living in the same area.

• A collection of non-living things in a specific location.

• A system of government that regulates environmental policies.