Ecology Vocab

What is Ecology? Ecology - The relationship between organisms and its environment. Ecology - The relationship between organisms and its environment. It is made up of an ecosystem that contains communities consisting of biotic and abiotic factors that make up populations within that ecosystem. It is made up of an ecosystem that contains communities consisting of biotic and abiotic factors that make up populations within that ecosystem.

Population- all the members of one species in an area Community- a group of plants and animals living and interacting together with one another in a specific area. Community- a group of plants and animals living and interacting together with one another in a specific area.

Ecosystem- all the members of a community plus the abiotic factors influencing one another Ecosystem- all the members of a community plus the abiotic factors influencing one another Biotic- an organism that is living or was once living Biotic- an organism that is living or was once living Abiotic- nonliving factors of an Abiotic- nonliving factors of an environment environment

Organism- any individual living thing, whether it is a plant or animal Organism- any individual living thing, whether it is a plant or animal Climax Community- a community of plants and animals that reach a stable equilibrium Climax Community- a community of plants and animals that reach a stable equilibrium

Biomes- Global habitats determined by temperature and rainfall. Biomes- Global habitats determined by temperature and rainfall. -based on types of plants -they have specific characteristics Ecotones- the overlapping of boundaries and blending of different biomes

Biomes 1. Tundra Treeless biome that is covered by a surface soil, underneath it is frozen. Treeless biome that is covered by a surface soil, underneath it is frozen. Plants and animals that live here must be adapted to cold temperatures, little vegetation grows here. Plants and animals that live here must be adapted to cold temperatures, little vegetation grows here.

2. Temperate Deciduous Forest Warm winters and long summers Warm winters and long summers Trees lose their leaves and change colors Trees lose their leaves and change colors Rich soil and lots of vegetation Rich soil and lots of vegetation

3. Desert Dry and very hot during the day, can become very cold at night Dry and very hot during the day, can become very cold at night Less than 25cm of rain per year Less than 25cm of rain per year Plants and animals must conserve water Plants and animals must conserve water

4. Savanna Tropical or subtropical grasslands with scattered trees or shrubs Tropical or subtropical grasslands with scattered trees or shrubs Plants and animals must deal with drought Plants and animals must deal with drought (Lion King) (Lion King)

5. Taiga Forested area which contains cone- bearing evergreens (pines and spruce) Forested area which contains cone- bearing evergreens (pines and spruce) Plants and animals must adapt to cold long winters Plants and animals must adapt to cold long winters

6. Temperate Grasslands Mostly grass with little rainfall, which doesn’t allow for many trees to grow Mostly grass with little rainfall, which doesn’t allow for many trees to grow Soil is rich and is always producing vegetation Soil is rich and is always producing vegetation

7. Tropical Rainforest Stable year round growing and abudent rainfall Stable year round growing and abudent rainfall Trees form a canopy that shades the forest floor Trees form a canopy that shades the forest floor Largest species richness of all biomes Largest species richness of all biomes

Life Zone- a way to describe an area that has similar plant and animal communities. Life Zone- a way to describe an area that has similar plant and animal communities. Biotic Community -a group of interdependent organisms in the same habitat interacting with one another. Biotic Community -a group of interdependent organisms in the same habitat interacting with one another. Climate -the “average’ weather Climate -the “average’ weather

Herbivore -an organism that eats only plants Herbivore -an organism that eats only plants Carnivore -an organism who eats mostly meats Carnivore -an organism who eats mostly meats

Omnivore -an organism who eats meat and plants equally Omnivore -an organism who eats meat and plants equally Decomposer -breaks down dead and decaying plants and animals Decomposer -breaks down dead and decaying plants and animals

Food Web- shows how plants and animals are connected in many different ways Food Web- shows how plants and animals are connected in many different ways Trophic Level-position in the food chain determined by the energy transfer of that organism Trophic Level-position in the food chain determined by the energy transfer of that organism Food Chain-shows how plants and animals are connected by a linear (single) pathway. Food Chain-shows how plants and animals are connected by a linear (single) pathway.

Producers- plants that provide food for herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores Producers- plants that provide food for herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores Primary Consumer- 2 nd trophic level that is made up of herbivores and bacteria/fungi. Primary Consumer- 2 nd trophic level that is made up of herbivores and bacteria/fungi. Secondary Consumers- 3 rd trophic level that is made up of secondary carnivores and omnivores Secondary Consumers- 3 rd trophic level that is made up of secondary carnivores and omnivores Tertiary Consumers- 4th trophic level that is made up of primary carnivores (larger animals) Tertiary Consumers- 4th trophic level that is made up of primary carnivores (larger animals)