ECOLOGY VOCABULARY

UNIT 2

1. ABIOTIC FACTOR- NON-LIVING FACTOR THAT AFFECTS AN

ECOSYSTEM IN SOME WAY.

2. MUTUALISM- A TYPE OF SYMBIOSIS IN WHICH BOTH

SPECIES BENEFIT.

3. NICHE- AN ORGANISM’S ROLE OR JOB IN AN ENVIRONMENT.

Niche= Scavenger

Niche= Decomposers

4. LOGISTIC GROWTH- POPULATION GROWTH EXHIBITED WHEN A POPULATION’S RESOURCES RUN OUT AND

GROWTH SLOWS OR STOPS (S-SHAPED CURVE).

5. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- POPULATION GROWTH EXHIBITED WHEN A POPULATION HAS UNLIMITED RESOURCES AND IS FREE TO REPRODUCE (J-SHAPED CURVE).

6. PRODUCER- ORGANISM THAT MAKES ITS OWN FOOD

(BOTTOM OF FOOD PYRAMID): HAS THE MOST AVAILABLE ENERGY. (AUTOTROPH)

7. BIOTIC FACTOR- LIVING FACTOR THAT AFFECTS AN ECOSYSTEM IN SOME WAY.

8. PARASITISM- A TYPE OF SYMBIOSIS IN WHICH ONE SPECIES BENEFIT AND THE OTHER IS HARMED.

9. SYMBIOSIS- AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TWO ORGANISMS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES (LIVING CLOSELY TOGETHER).

10. TROPHIC LEVEL- LEVEL OR STEP IN A FOOD CHAIN OR WEB (TROPH- FOOD).

11. DENSITY DEPENDENT FACTOR- A FACTOR AFFECTING AN ECOSYSTEM RELATIVE TO SIZE (FOR EXAMPLE: FOOD SPACE, AND OTHER LIMITED RESOURCES).

12. CONSUMER- ORGANISM THAT MUST GET FOOD ENERGY FROM OTHER SOURCES (HIGHER LEVELS OF PYRAMID). (HETEROTROPH)

13. GLOBAL WARMING- AN INCREASE IN THE EARTH’S AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DUE TO HARMFUL POLLUTANTS EMITTED BY HUMANS.

14. LEARNED BEHAVIOR- BEHAVIOR THAT IS ACQUIRED THROUGH EXPERIENCE (CHIMPANZEE USING TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH TASK, OR CLASSICAL

15. INNATE BEHAVIOR- INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR WITH WHICH SPECIES ARE BORN (SUCKLING, HIBERNATION, IMPRINTING).

16. SOCIAL BEHAVIOR- BEHAVIOR AMONG MEMBERS OF THE SAME SPECIES (COURTSHIP, AND IN SOME CASES, TERRITORIAL OR AGGRESSIVE).

17. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE- ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE PRACTICE THAT PROMOTES CONSERVATION.

Reforestation

18-DENSITY-INDEPENDENT FACTOR- A FACTOR AFFECTING AN ECOSYSTEM REGARDLESS OF SIZE (FOR EXAMPLE: WEATHER, CLIMATE, AND NATURAL DISASTERS.)

19. GYMNOSPERM- VASCULAR PLANT THAT PRODUCES CONES.

20. CARRYING CAPACITY- THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ORGANISMS AN ENVIRONMENT CAN

SUPPORT DUE TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

Swarm of locusts exceeding Carrying Capacity

21. ANGIOSPERM- VASCULAR PLANT THAT PRODUCES FLOWERS AND FRUITS (SEEDS CONTAINED IN AN OVARY).

22. XYLEM- TYPE OF VASCULAR TISSUE THAT TRANSPORTS

WATER FROM THE ROOTS THROUGH THE STEMS TO THE LEAVES OF A PLANT.

23. PHLOEM- TYPE OF VASCULAR TISSUE THAT TRANSPORTS

SUGAR AND OTHER DISSOLVED NUTRIENTS THROUGHOUT THE PLANT.