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.