U8: Ecosystems Vocabulary

commensalism

• relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

• relationship where both organisms benefit

• relationship where one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected

• relationship where both organisms are harmed

water cycle

• the process of water being stored in lakes and rivers

• the continuous process of water moving from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back

• the method of purifying water for drinking

• the cycle of water being used in agriculture

native species

• species that have naturally evolved in an area

• species that have been introduced by humans

• species that are found in multiple regions

• species that are endangered in their habitat

Demography

• study of population characteristics

• study of economic trends

• study of environmental impacts

• study of historical events

secondary succession

• succession following a disturbance without destroying the soil

• the initial colonization of barren land

• the process of soil formation from rock

• the gradual replacement of one community by another

environment

• surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives

• a type of weather pattern

• a specific geographical location

• a form of government

population

• group of individuals of the same species in the same area

• a collection of different species living together

• the total number of individuals in a species

• a group of individuals from different areas

What is acid precipitation?

• Rain, sleet, or snow with high concentration of acids

• A type of weather phenomenon that occurs in summer

• A form of precipitation that is always acidic

• Precipitation that contains no minerals or pollutants

mutualism

• relationship where both species benefit

• one species benefits while the other is harmed

• one species benefits and the other is unaffected

• both species are harmed

Biogeography

• study of past and present distribution of organisms

• study of climate change effects on species

• study of genetic variations in populations

• study of the physical environment's impact on ecosystems