Ecosystem and Biome Vocabulary
Population
A group of the same species living in the same area
Species
A group of organisms that can successfully reproduce viable offspring
Ecosystem
All of the living and nonliving factors in one area
Comminuty
All of the living organisms in one area
Biome
Large area of several ecosystems that share similar climate and habitat
Symbiosis
Relationships between organisms
Parasitism
One organism benefits while the other is harmed
Predation
One organism feeds off of another and kills it
Commensalism
One organism benefits while the other is neither harmed or helped
Mutualism
Both organisms benefit
Succession
The natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area
Primary
succession
Secondary
succession
Pioneer species
Begins in a place without any soil such as landslides, volcanoes, or flooding where
there is no soil
Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms such
as a forest fire
The first living things in an ecosystem such as lichens that do not need soil
Climax
community
Tropical
rainforest
Temperate
deciduous forest
Taiga
A stable group of plants and animals that is the end result of the succession process
Prairie and
Steppe
Desert
Tundra
Freshwater
Coral reefs
Most complex land biome. Found near the equator and has little variation in
temperature
Most of the human population live in this biome. Found about 48 degrees North
latitude. 4 distinct seasons
Also known as Northern Coniferous Forest. Found only in Northern hemisphere. Cold,
long winters and coniferous trees abundant.
High winds with grasses that won’t dry out or blow away.
Less than 10 inches a year of rainfall. Little to no topsoil. Animals and plants adapted
for little water
Found north of the arctic circle. Temperature rarely higher than 10 degrees Celsius.
Permafrost layer and short growing season
Salinity is less than 0.5 ppt. and are fed by underground aquifer or streams.
Biotic
Close to the equator and has consistent water temperature. Shallow water. Low in
nutrients. Breeding area for many fish
Covers nearly ¾ of the Earth’s surface. High salinity. Least productive area on Earth sue
to little sunlight
Can be considered marine ecosystem since the base of the food chain is
phytoplankton. Very cold and can be Arctic or Anarctic
Living factors in an ecosystem
Abiotic
Nonliving factors in an ecosystem
Adaptation
Flora
Characteristics of plants or animals that have let them be successful in their
environment
Various types of plant species in a given area
Fauna
Various types of animal species in a given area
Oceans
Polar