Ecology DefinitionsEcology Definitions

EcosystemEcosystem – A community of interrelated – A community of interrelated plants, animals, and abiotic factorsplants, animals, and abiotic factors

EvolutionEvolution – Process by which an organism – Process by which an organism changes over timechanges over time

Natural SelectionNatural Selection – The natural process by – The natural process by which organisms better suited for their which organisms better suited for their environment survive to pass those qualities on environment survive to pass those qualities on to successive generationsto successive generations

NicheNiche – A specific area or function within a habitat – A specific area or function within a habitat

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis – The chemical process by which – The chemical process by which plants use the Sun’s energy to convert water and plants use the Sun’s energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugarcarbon dioxide into sugar

AdaptationAdaptation - A physical or behavioral change that - A physical or behavioral change that improves a species’ ability to succeed in its improves a species’ ability to succeed in its environmentenvironment

Artificial SelectionArtificial Selection – Human intervention in breeding – Human intervention in breeding animals or plants with desired characteristics animals or plants with desired characteristics

AbioticAbiotic – Describes nonliving factors that help – Describes nonliving factors that help living things survive; temperature, soil, light, living things survive; temperature, soil, light, waterwater

Adaptive RadiationAdaptive Radiation – Diversification from a – Diversification from a common ancestor into different formscommon ancestor into different forms

BiomeBiome – Linked ecosystems that form a large – Linked ecosystems that form a large regional or global living communityregional or global living community

Food ChainFood Chain – The way food energy is – The way food energy is transferred from one organism to anothertransferred from one organism to another

Habitat Habitat – The place in which an organism lives– The place in which an organism lives

Cellular RespirationCellular Respiration – The process of releasing – The process of releasing energy stored in carbohydrates that produces carbon energy stored in carbohydrates that produces carbon dioxide and water (exhale)dioxide and water (exhale)

First-Order ConsumersFirst-Order Consumers – Organisms that eat food – Organisms that eat food producers (plants) (Primary)producers (plants) (Primary)

Second-Order ConsumerSecond-Order Consumer – Organisms that eat first – Organisms that eat first order consumers (Secondary)order consumers (Secondary)

Third-Order ConsumerThird-Order Consumer – Organisms that eat second- – Organisms that eat second-order consumers (Tertiary)order consumers (Tertiary)

Community Community – The living part of an ecosystem– The living part of an ecosystem

Food ProducersFood Producers – Organisms such as plants – Organisms such as plants and algae which, through the process of and algae which, through the process of photosynthesis, create energy-rich foodphotosynthesis, create energy-rich food

EcologyEcology – the study of the relationships and – the study of the relationships and interactions of living things with one another interactions of living things with one another and with their physical environmentand with their physical environment

PopulationPopulation – A group of organisms of the – A group of organisms of the same species living in the same ecosystemsame species living in the same ecosystem

DecomposersDecomposers – Organisms such as fungi and bacteria – Organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down the complex chemical compounds that break down the complex chemical compounds made by living things into simple nutrients that are made by living things into simple nutrients that are used by food producersused by food producers

CombustionCombustion – The process of burning such things as – The process of burning such things as wood or fossil fuels that releases carbon dioxide, wood or fossil fuels that releases carbon dioxide, water, and stored energy.water, and stored energy.

Carbon cycleCarbon cycle – The movement of carbon atoms – The movement of carbon atoms through an ecosystem between living organisms as through an ecosystem between living organisms as well as the non-living part of an environmentwell as the non-living part of an environment

Fertile OffspringFertile Offspring – Offspring that will mature and be – Offspring that will mature and be able to reproduceable to reproduce

Food WebFood Web – Interconnected food chains in an – Interconnected food chains in an ecosystemecosystem

SpeciesSpecies – very similar organisms that can interbreed – very similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspringand produce fertile offspring

BioticBiotic – the living things in an ecosystem – the living things in an ecosystem

ExtinctionExtinction – The complete destruction of an entire – The complete destruction of an entire species of organismspecies of organism

NutrientNutrient – A simple chemical compound used to – A simple chemical compound used to nourish living things; the useable part of the foodnourish living things; the useable part of the food

Water cycleWater cycle: – The movement of water : – The movement of water through an ecosystem between living through an ecosystem between living organisms as well as the non-living part of an organisms as well as the non-living part of an environmentenvironment

Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen cycle: – The movement of nitrogen – The movement of nitrogen through an ecosystem between living through an ecosystem between living organisms as well as the non-living part of an organisms as well as the non-living part of an environmentenvironment