Name _________________
Ecosystems & Population Vocabulary Quiz
Using the following vocabulary words to fill in the blanks. One word will be used twice.
Ecosystem
predator
abiotic
prey
Mutualism
population
herbivore
biotic
parasitism
omnivore
consumers
symbiotic
carnivore
competes
niche
producer
commensalism
An area where all living and nonliving things live together and depend on each other to
obtain the necessities of life to maintain a natural balance is called an _____________. Each
organism has a role called a ________ which helps maintain the ecosystems balance. The living
organisms or the _______ components of an ecosystem that have an interactive relationship
that allows them to get food, water, a home, mate, and protection over a long period of time
are said to have a ________________ relationship. In an ecosystem, the nonliving
components, such as water, rocks, soil, light and heat are all examples of __________ factors.
Ecosystems are made up of organisms that make their own food called ___________
and ecosystems also have ______________ which consume plants or other ___________.
Organisms that eat nothing but plants are said to be ___________ and organisms that eat only
meat are ____________. However, ______________ eat both plants and meat.
When an organism ___________ for resources (food and water), homes, and mates,
they might have a relationship where one of them is _______________ because the
___________ is hunting them and trying use them as a food source. If an organism is using
another organism to protect them or “catch a ride” but they aren’t harming the organism they
are benefiting from, they are experiencing a __________ relationship. When organisms feed
off another organism, such as a tick and a dog, the tick is getting food but the dog is harmed
because ticks cause the dog to itch, this relationship is called ______________. Another
relationship in which two different organisms benefit from each other such as the clown fish
and the sea anemone they have a ____________ relationship. All of these factors help
contribute to a healthy ecosystem which helps keep the ___________ of organisms in check.
TEACHER KEY
Ecosystems & Population Vocabulary Quiz
Using the following vocabulary words to fill in the blanks. One word will be used twice.
Ecosystem
predator
abiotic
prey
Mutualism
population
herbivore
biotic
parasitism
omnivore
consumers
symbiotic
carnivore
competes
niche
producer
commensalism
An area where all living and nonliving things live together and depend on each other to
obtain the necessities of life to maintain a natural balance is called an ECOSYSTEM. Each
organism has a role called a NICHE which helps maintain the ecosystems balance. The living
organisms or the BIOTIC components of an ecosystem that have an interactive relationship
that allows them to get food, water, a home, mate, and protection over a long period of time
are said to have a SYMBIOTIC relationship. In an ecosystem, the nonliving components, such
as water, rocks, soil, light and heat are all examples of ABIOTIC factors.
Ecosystems are made up of organisms that make their own food. These organisms are
called PRODUCERS. Ecosystems also have CONSUMERS which consume plants or other
CONSUMERS. Organisms that eat nothing but plants are said to be HERBIVORES and
organisms that eat only meat are CARNIVORES. However, OMNIVORES eat both plants and
meat.
When an organism COMPETES for resources (food and water), homes, and mates, they
might have a relationship where one of them is PREY because the PREDATOR is hunting them
and trying to use them as a food source. If an organism is using another organism to protect
them or “catch a ride” but they aren’t harming the organism they are benefiting from, they are
experiencing a COMMENSALISM relationship. When organisms feed off another organism,
such as a tick and a dog, the tick is getting food but the dog is harmed because ticks cause the
dog to itch, this relationship is called PARASITISM. Another relationship in which two different
organisms benefit from each other such as the clown fish and the sea anemone they have a
MUTUALISM relationship. All of these factors help contribute to a healthy ecosystem which
helps keep the POPULATION of organisms in check.