Ecology Terminology
Ecology - The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Lesson 1
Biosphere – Where organisms live (air, land and water)
Biomes – The largest ecological regions distinguished by characteristics of plants and
animals.
Ecosystems – All of the living and non-living things in a specific area.
Ecotones – A transition zone between 2 ecosystems.
Habitat – A place where an organism lives.
Population – A group of the same species interacting and living in the same area.
Community – Different populations living in the same area and how they interact with
each other and their surrounding environment.
Niche – An organism’s role in the ecosystem.
Biotic- Living
Abiotic – Non-living
Lesson 2
Symbiotic relationships – interaction between
species; The species will either interact, help or fight
for survival.
1. Mutualism – Both species gain (honey bee –
flower)
2. Commensalism – One species benefits and the
other is not harmed but doesn’t benefit (chicken
– egg)
3. Parasitism – One benefits and the other is
harmed (mosquito – human)
4. Predator-Prey – One benefits the other is killed.
(hawk – rabbit)
A.
Producer - a living thing that makes its own
food from sunlight, air, and soil. Green plants are
producers who make food in their leaves.
B.
Consumer - is a living thing that cannot
make its own food. Consumers get their energy
by eating food. All animals are consumers.

Carnivores are animals that eat mostly meat.
Examples of carnivores: wolves, foxes, lions, tigers,
eagles, storks, pelicans, snakes, penguins.

Herbivores are animals that eat plants.
Examples of herbivores: cows, horses, goats, rabbits,
zebras.

Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and
animals.
Examples of omnivores: pigs, grizzly bears, humans
raccoons, opossums
C.
Decomposer - is a living thing that gets
energy by breaking down dead plants and
animals.
Examples - Fungi and bacteria
Lesson 3
Adaptations – The ability of an organism to adjust to become more suited to an
environment.