Ecosystems

Ecosystems Vocabulary

Ecosystem: All the living and nonliving things in an area that interact with each other

biodiversity: a wide variety of organisms

Terrestrial: Having to do with the land or earth

Aquatic: Having to do with water

Environment: Everything that surrounds an organism and influences it

Abiotic Factor: A nonliving part of an ecosystem

Biotic Factor: A living part of an ecosystem

Population: All the organisms of one species that live in an area at the same time

Habitat: The area in which an organism lives

Niche:  The role of an organism in its community

Community: All the populations living in an area

Producer: an organism that can make its own food through the process of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis: The process in which plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to create sugar for themselves for food/energy

Decomposer: an organism that get its energy from breaking down decaying organic material; the role of the decomposers is the recycling of nutrients throughout the ecosystem

Consumer: an organism that get its energy by eating other organisms

herbivore: a consumer which gets it energy by eating only plants and vegetation

omnivore: a consumer which gets it energy by eating both plants and meat/animal flesh

carnivore: a consumer which gets its energy by eating only meat/animal flesh

adaptation: a change in order to fit in a new situation or use

fertile: rich in nutrients; often used to describe soil

forest: an area of land densely populated with trees

grassland: a large, flat area of land which is mostly populated by tall grasses and few trees

predator: An organism that hunts and eats other organisms for energy

prey: An organism that is hunted and eaten

Food Chain: Shows how energy is passed on from one living thing to the next. The arrow always points to the organism doing the eating.

Food web: Shows the feeding habits of different animals that live together in an ecosystem. A food web is made up of many different food chains. The arrow always points to the organism doing the eating.

Interdependence:  In an ecosystem, plants and animals depend on each other, as well as other non-living things.

symbiotic relationship: a relationship where two organisms of two DIFFERENT species interact.

Mutualism - “Good for me, good for you!” When two organisms interact and their relationship benefits BOTH of them, it is mutualism. 😊 😊

Commensalism - “Good for me, doesn’t bother you!” In this type of relationship, two species have a relationship where one species is getting something good out of it, while the other species is neither bothered or helped by the relationship. 😊😐

Parasitism - “Good for me, bad for you!” In this type of relationship, one species gets something good out of it, while the other is harmed in some way.  😊😟

Scavenger:  An animal or organism that feeds on dead animals 

Model: a representation of objects or processes that look like or help explain the real thing

Germination: process by which seed swell up and begin to sprout and develop

Terrarium: a closed glass or plastic container in which terrestrial organisms can live and be observed

Aquarium: glass or plastic container in which aquatic organisms can live and be observed

Radiation: a way that energy is transferred from Sun to Earth

Variable: the part of an experiment that is changed or tested 

Control: the part of the experiment that is not changed