Unit 1.1 Foundations of Ecosystems Vocabulary

Front

Ecology

Back

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

Front

Environment

Back

Everything that surrounds a living thing.

Front

Ecosystem

Back

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Front

Biotic Factor

Back

A living or once-living part of an ecosystem (e.g., plants, animals, fungi).

Front

Abiotic Factor

Back

A non-living part of an ecosystem (e.g., sunlight, temperature, water, soil).

Front

Habitat

Back

The specific place where an organism lives; its 'address.'

Front

Niche

Back

An organism's functional role in its ecosystem; its 'profession.'

Front

Adaptation

Back

A trait or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Front

Native Species

Back

An organism that is naturally found in a particular ecosystem.

Front

Food Web

Back

A model showing the complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.