Living Things and the Environment

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Organism Noun

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[or-guh-niz-uhm]

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Organism

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An individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, or single-celled life form, that interacts with its environment.

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Example: An amoeba is a single-celled organism that interacts with its environment.

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Habitat Noun

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[hab-i-tat]

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Habitat

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The natural home or environment that provides the things a specific organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce.

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Example: A pond habitat showing plants and animals living together, illustrating how it provides resources for survival.

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Resources Noun

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[ree-sor-siz]

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Resources

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The essential materials like food, water, and shelter that an organism needs to survive, grow, and reproduce successfully.

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Example: This image shows how plants need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make food and oxygen.

Front

Biotic Factors Noun

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[by-ot-ik fak-terz]

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Biotic Factors

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The living or once-living parts of a habitat that interact with an organism, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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Example: The image shows animals and plants around a pond, demonstrating biotic factors in an ecosystem.

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Abiotic Factors Noun

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[ey-by-ot-ik fak-terz]

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Abiotic Factors

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The nonliving physical and chemical parts of an organism's habitat, such as sunlight, water, temperature, and soil composition.

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Example: Sunlight and rain are abiotic factors affecting an ecosystem.

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Species Noun

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[spee-sheez]

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Species

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A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring that can also reproduce.

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Example: Two species of crows can interbreed to produce hybrids, showing species concept.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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All the members of a single species that live together in a particular geographical area at the same time.

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Example: This image shows different animals living together in a pond ecosystem, illustrating a population of species in one area.

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Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

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Community

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All the different populations of various species that live together and interact within a specific geographical area.

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Example: Different species like birds, fish, and mammals living together in a pond ecosystem show a community.

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

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Example: This image shows an ecosystem with animals, plants, and water, illustrating how they interact in their environment.

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Ecology Noun

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[ee-kol-uh-jee]

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Ecology

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The scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and with their physical and chemical environment.

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Example: This image shows how different animals and plants interact in a shared environment, illustrating the concept of ecology.