Chapter 3 Vocabulary

Part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere

• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community
• biotic factor

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

• ecology
• biosphere
• population
• community
• biotic factor

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

• population
• biosphere
• ecology
• community
• biotic factor

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

• community
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• biotic factor

any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

• biotic factor
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community

physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem

• abiotic factor
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community

organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer

• autotroph
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community

first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

• primary producer
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community

organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer

• heterotroph
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community

organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph

• consumer
• biosphere
• ecology
• population
• community