Stability and Change in Populations

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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 all the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things interacting in a particular area.

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Example: An ecosystem includes animals, plants, and water interacting in a natural environment.

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Ecologist Noun

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[ee-kol-uh-jist]

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Ecologist

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A scientist who studies the complex interactions of organisms with one another and with their physical environment.

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Example: An ecologist studies how fish, plants, and water interact in a pond ecosystem.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of organisms of the same species that live together in the same geographical area.

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Example: A group of animals living together in a forest ecosystem.

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Consumer Population Noun

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[kuhn-soo-mer pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Consumer Population

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A population of organisms that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms in an ecosystem.

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Example: An ecological pyramid shows consumer populations obtaining energy by feeding on organisms below them.

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Resource Population Noun

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[ree-sawrs pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Resource Population

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A population of organisms that provides a source of food and energy for other organisms.

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Example: A pond ecosystem where fish serve as a resource population for other organisms.

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Reproduction Noun

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[ree-pruh-duhk-shuhn]

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Reproduction

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The biological process by which new individual organisms, called offspring, are produced from their parents.

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Example: The image shows plant reproduction through pollination, leading to new pea plants.

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Stability Noun

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[stuh-bil-i-tee]

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Stability

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A condition where a population's size remains relatively constant because birth and death rates are balanced.

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Example: This image shows how rabbit populations are stable in optimal conditions, balancing birth and death rates.

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Sample Noun

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[sam-puhl]

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Sample

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A small portion of a population collected by scientists to gain information about the entire group.

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Example: A blood sample is taken from a vein to analyze health information about the entire body.

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Biodiversity Noun

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[bahy-oh-di-vur-si-tee]

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Biodiversity

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The variety of different species found within an ecosystem, which is often used as a measure of its health.

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Example: A coral reef with diverse marine life shows biodiversity, indicating a healthy ecosystem.

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Predation Noun

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[pri-dey-shuhn]

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Predation

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A biological interaction where one organism, the predator, hunts, kills, and consumes another organism, the prey.

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Example: A fox hunts and catches a rabbit, showing predation.