Environment The physical surroundings of an organism, including all the conditions and circumstances that affect its development.

Interaction a relationship between parts of the environment.

Biotic Factors the parts of the environment that are living or were once alive. Examples- dog, bone, rotting log

Abiotic Factors the parts of the environment that are nonliving Examples: air, temperature, water, light, sand

Niche The role an organism plays in its environment How an organism is used by, and uses others in its environment.

Habitat The SPECIFIC place where an organism calls home.

Ecosystem A group of organisms and their physical environment List 5 examples: Tundra Rainforest Ocean Desert Forest

Freshwater Ecosystem List ALL of the abiotic factors (seen and unseen) in this environment!

Symbiosis a kind of partnership between two biotic factors in nature.

Commensalism a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed.

Mutualism a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both benefit. Mutualism between ants, a caterpillar, and a flower in the American southwest. The caterpillar has a nectar organ which the ants drink from, the flower survives from the feeding caterpillar, and the ants provide protection for both the plant and the caterpillar.

Parasitism a symbiotic relationship in which one biotic factor benefits (the parasite) and LIVES IN or ON another and takes nutrients from the HOST, (which is a biotic factor being harmed).

Symbiosis Commensalism Mutualism Parasitism

Photosynthesis The process of using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make food (glucose, a type of sugar). Green plants do this! Products

Producers (most plants) Organisms that produce food for themselves and others through Photosynthesis!

Consumers Organisms that depend on other organisms for food. They must EAT! Cannot undergo photosynthesis!

Herbivores Consumers of only plants. dull teeth often become prey Diet = 1)berries/fruits 2)Nuts 3)Grains 4)Flowers/grasses

Carnivores Consumers of only meat. sharp teeth to tear meat of their prey!

Omnivores Consumers that eat plants and animals.

Predator Predator- A consumer that hunts or captures other organisms (prey) for food. KILL FOR FOOD!

Prey an organism that is hunted or captured and eaten by another consumer. Prey

Scavenger Scavenger- A consumer of dead or decaying plants and animals.

Decomposer Bacteria and fungi that break down dead and decaying plant and animal matter and enrich the soil.

Population All organisms of the same species living in the same area.

Community All the populations of species living in an area.

Food chain A diagram showing how certain living things depend on one another for energy. The flower gives energy to the caterpillar, who gives energy to the frog, who gives energy to the snake, who gives energy to the owl!

These ARE food chains: Grass  Cow  Human Acorn  Squirrel  Decomposer Plant plankton  Whale Dead leaves  Worm  Robin  Hawk Tree buds  Deer  Cougar  Decomposer

These are NOT food chains: Sun  Daisy  Butterfly  Frog Water  Algae  Fish  Turtle Plankton  DDT  Fish  Eagle Algae  Minnow  Bass  Plastic fishing lure Corn  Mouse  Snake  Water

Food Chain Rule #1 Food chains only contain biotic factors. SUN WATERPESTICIDES NON_LIVING THINGS

These ARE food chains: Grass  Cow  Human Acorn  Squirrel  Decomposer Plant plankton  Whale Dead leaves  Worm  Robin  Hawk Tree buds  Deer  Cougar  Decomposer

These are NOT food chains: Cow  Grass  Human Squirrel  Acorn Whale  Plant plankton Worm  Dead leaves  Robin  Hawk Deer  Tree buds  Cougar

Food Chain Rule #2 Food chains must start with a producer.

Examples of Producers

These ARE food chains: Grass  Cow  Human Acorn  Squirrel  Decomposer Plant plankton  Whale Dead leaves  Worm  Robin  Hawk Tree buds  Deer  Cougar  Decomposer

These are NOT food chains: Grass  Cow  Human Acorn  Squirrel Plant plankton  Whale Dead leaves  Worm  Robin  Hawk Tree buds  Deer  Cougar Remember  means “gives energy to…”

Food Chain Rule #3 Food chains have arrows that go from left to right. It shows the food “jumping” into the other organism’s mouth.

These ARE food chains: Grass  Cow  Human Acorn  Squirrel Plant plankton  Whale Dead leaves  Worm  Robin  Hawk Tree buds  Deer  Cougar Producer! Primary Consumer: most often an herbivore May be an omnivore May be a scavenger Given this title because it is the player that if “first” to eat Secondary Consumer: 2 nd player to eat, cannot be an herbivore! Could be an omnivore. Most likely is a carnivore

Food web A diagram showing as many food relationships as possible between living things in an area.

Succession Changes in an area that cause one group of organisms to be replaced by another. All rebuilt = climax community All rebuilt = climax community

Acid Rain Precipitation formed when pollution from burning gas, oil, or coal mix with water vapor in the air to form an acid.

Ph scale A rating scale used to measure the acid or alkaline (base) content of a substance. It ranges from Below 7= acid 0,1,2,3- strong acids Above 7= base 11,12,13,14- strong bases Exactly 7= neutral