Ecology vocab

Question 1

Biotic

Answer 1

Living factors in the environment.

Question 2

Abiotic

Answer 2

Nonliving parts of the environment such as water, rocks, light and temperature.

Question 3

Limiting Factors

Answer 3

Anything that constraints a population

Question 4

Symbiosis

Answer 4

A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other.

Question 5

Mutualism

Answer 5

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Question 6

Commensalism

Answer 6

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Question 7

Parasitism

Answer 7

A symbiotic association in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Question 8

Herbivore

Answer 8

An organism that eats only plants

Question 9

Carnivore

Answer 9

An organism that eats only animals

Question 10

Omnivore

Answer 10

An organism that eats both plants and animals.

Question 11

Consumer

Answer 11

Organisms that eat other organisms

Question 12

Producer

Answer 12

An organism that makes its own food from sunlight or chemicals, such as plants.

Question 13

Decomposer

Answer 13

Organisms that get energy by breaking down dead organisms.

Question 14

Photosynthesis

Answer 14

The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make glucose (sugar) and oxygen.

Question 15

Cellular Respiration

Answer 15

The process by which all organisms use glucose (sugar) and oxygen to produce ATP. The waste products are carbon dioxide and water.

Question 16

Food Chain

Answer 16

The pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms.

Question 17

Food Web

Answer 17

A diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 18

Energy Pyramid

Answer 18

A triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem’s loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem’s food chain.

Question 19

Trophic Level

Answer 19

The position an organism occupies in a food web (i.e.: Producer, Primary Consumer, Secondary Consumer, Tertiary Consumer, Quaternary Consumer)

Question 20

Carrying Capacity

Answer 20

The largest population that an environment can support at any given time.

Question 21

The Carbon Cycle

Answer 21

The movement of carbon between the environment and living things.

Question 22

Biomes

Answer 22

A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plants and animal communities.

Question 23

Tropical Rainforest

Answer 23

Hot and rainy region characterized by broad-leaf trees and high biodiversity.

Question 24

Temperate Forest

Answer 24

Regions with high levels of precipitation, humidity, and deciduous trees. Has distinct seasons.

Question 25

Savanna

Answer 25

A grassland that has scattered trees and seasonal rains.

Question 26

Desert

Answer 26

A region that has little or no plant life, long periods without rain, and extreme temperatures; usually found in hot climates.

Question 27

Tundra

Answer 27

A treeless plain found in the Arctic, in the Antarctic, or on the tops of mountains that is characterized by very low winter temperatures and short, cool summers.

Question 28

Boreal Forest

Answer 28

Also called Taiga or Coniferous Forest. Region characterized by long cold winters, short cool summers, and coniferous trees.

Question 29

Freshwater

Answer 29

Naturally occurring water that is found in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater

Question 30

Estuaries

Answer 30

An area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean.

Question 31

Marine

Answer 31

Water based ecosystems that are characterized by salt water.

Question 32

Biodiversity

Answer 32

The number and variety of organisms in a given area during a specific period of time.