Ecology Definitions

Ecosystem – A community of interrelated plants, animals, and abiotic factors Evolution – Process by which an organism changes over time Natural Selection – The natural process by which organisms better suited for their environment survive to pass those qualities on to successive generations

Niche – A specific area or function within a habitat Adaptation - A physical or behavioral change that improves a species’ ability to succeed in its environment Artificial Selection – Human intervention in breeding animals or plants with desired characteristics Biotic – the living things in an ecosystem Species – very similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Abiotic – Describes nonliving factors that help living things survive; temperature, soil, light, water Biome – Linked ecosystems that form a large regional or global living community Food Chain – The way food energy is transferred from one organism to another Habitat – The place in which an organism lives

Ecology – the study of the relationships and interactions of living things with one another and with their physical environment Population – A group of organisms of the same species living in the same ecosystem