Ecology Definitions

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Ecology Definitions
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• Ecosystem A community of interrelated plants,
  animals, and abiotic factors
• Evolution Process by which an organism changes
  over time
• Natural Selection The natural process by which
  organisms better suited for their environment
  survive to pass those qualities on to successive
  generations

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• Niche A specific area or function within a
  habitat
• Photosynthesis The chemical process by which
  plants use the Suns energy to convert water and
  carbon dioxide into sugar
• Adaptation - A physical or behavioral change
  that improves a species ability to succeed in
  its environment
• Artificial Selection Human intervention in
  breeding animals or plants with desired
  characteristics

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• Abiotic Describes nonliving factors that help
  living things survive temperature, soil, light,
  water
• Adaptive Radiation Diversification from a
  common ancestor into different forms
• Biome Linked ecosystems that form a large
  regional or global living community
• Food Chain The way food energy is transferred
  from one organism to another

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• Habitat The place in which an organism lives
• Cellular Respiration The process of releasing
  energy stored in carbohydrates that produces
  carbon dioxide and water (exhale)
• First-Order Consumers Organisms that eat food
  producers (plants) (Primary)
• Second-Order Consumer Organisms that eat first
  order consumers (Secondary)
• Third-Order Consumer Organisms that eat
  second-order consumers (Tertiary)

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• Community The living part of an ecosystem
• Food Producers Organisms such as plants and
  algae which, through the process of
  photosynthesis, create energy-rich food
• Ecology the study of the relationships and
  interactions of living things with one another
  and with their physical environment
• Population A group of organisms of the same
  species living in the same ecosystem

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• Decomposers Organisms such as fungi and
  bacteria that break down the complex chemical
  compounds made by living things into simple
  nutrients that are used by food producers
• Combustion The process of burning such things
  as wood or fossil fuels that releases carbon
  dioxide, water, and stored energy.
• Carbon cycle The movement of carbon atoms
  through an ecosystem between living organisms as
  well as the non-living part of an environment
• Fertile Offspring Offspring that will mature
  and be able to reproduce

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• Food Web Interconnected food chains in an
  ecosystem
• Species very similar organisms that can
  interbreed and produce fertile offspring
• Biotic the living things in an ecosystem
• Extinction The complete destruction of an
  entire species of organism
• Nutrient A simple chemical compound used to
  nourish living things the useable part of the
  food

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• Water cycle The movement of water through an
  ecosystem between living organisms as well as the
  non-living part of an environment
• Nitrogen cycle The movement of nitrogen
  through an ecosystem between living organisms as
  well as the non-living part of an environment