Glossary of Terms: Communities and Their Interactions

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Community

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A group of different species that live in the same area and interact with each other.

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Ecosystem

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A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area, along with their non-living environment (abiotic factors).

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Habitat

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The specific environment where an organism lives, including food, water, shelter, and space.

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Niche

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The role an organism plays in its environment, including how it gets food, reproduces, and interacts with other species.

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Symbiosis

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A close and long-term interaction between two different species.

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Mutualism

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A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit (e.g., bees pollinating flowers).

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Commensalism

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A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed (e.g., barnacles on a whale).

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Parasitism

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A symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits while the other (the host) is harmed (e.g., fleas on a dog).

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Predation

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An interaction where one organism (predator) hunts, kills, and eats another organism (prey).

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Competition

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When two or more organisms compete for the same limited resources, such as food, water, or shelter.