Ecology and Biology Terms

Biotic

• non-living parts of an ecosystem

• living parts of an ecosystem

• chemical components of an ecosystem

• physical features of an ecosystem

Omnivore

• an animal that eats both plants and animals

• a plant-eating animal

• a carnivorous animal

• an animal that only eats fruits

Photosynthesis

• the process that plants use to make glucose using carbon dioxide, light, water and producing oxygen

• the process by which animals convert food into energy

• the method by which plants absorb nutrients from the soil

• the way in which sunlight is converted into heat energy

Succession

• a series of changes in a community of an ecosystem

• a process of natural selection in species

• the introduction of new species to an ecosystem

• the extinction of species in a habitat

Competition

• when 2 or more organisms need the same limited resources to survive

• a process where organisms adapt to their environment

• the interaction between different species in an ecosystem

• the ability of an organism to produce offspring

Endotherm

• an animal that uses energy from their body to keep their body at a steady temperature

• an animal that relies on external sources of heat to regulate its body temperature

• an animal that can survive in extreme cold without any temperature regulation

• an animal that hibernates during winter months to conserve energy

Carnivore

• an animal that eats other animals or animal products

• a plant that absorbs nutrients from the soil

• an animal that primarily eats fruits and vegetables

• a creature that lives in water and feeds on algae

Herbivore

• an animal that eats only plants

• an animal that eats only meat

• an animal that eats both plants and meat

• an animal that primarily eats insects

Abiotic

• living parts of an ecosystem

• nonliving parts of an ecosystem

• the interactions between living organisms

• the climate and weather patterns

Decomposer

• an organism that breaks down the bodies of dead organisms

• a type of plant that produces energy through photosynthesis

• a consumer that eats living organisms

• a microorganism that causes diseases