Post on 12-Jan-2016
ECOLOGY VOCABULARY
UNIT 2
1. ABIOTIC FACTOR- NON-LIVING FACTOR THAT AFFECTS AN
ECOSYSTEM IN SOME WAY.
2. MUTUALISM- A TYPE OF SYMBIOSIS IN WHICH BOTH
SPECIES BENEFIT.
3. NICHE- AN ORGANISM’S ROLE OR JOB IN AN ENVIRONMENT.
Niche= Scavenger
Niche= Decomposers
4. LOGISTIC GROWTH- POPULATION GROWTH EXHIBITED WHEN A POPULATION’S RESOURCES RUN OUT AND
GROWTH SLOWS OR STOPS (S-SHAPED CURVE).
5. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH- POPULATION GROWTH EXHIBITED WHEN A POPULATION HAS UNLIMITED RESOURCES AND IS FREE TO REPRODUCE (J-SHAPED CURVE).
6. PRODUCER- ORGANISM THAT MAKES ITS OWN FOOD
(BOTTOM OF FOOD PYRAMID): HAS THE MOST AVAILABLE ENERGY. (AUTOTROPH)
7. BIOTIC FACTOR- LIVING FACTOR THAT AFFECTS AN ECOSYSTEM IN SOME WAY.
8. PARASITISM- A TYPE OF SYMBIOSIS IN WHICH ONE SPECIES BENEFIT AND THE OTHER IS HARMED.
9. SYMBIOSIS- AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TWO ORGANISMS OF DIFFERENT SPECIES (LIVING CLOSELY TOGETHER).
10. TROPHIC LEVEL- LEVEL OR STEP IN A FOOD CHAIN OR WEB (TROPH- FOOD).
11. DENSITY DEPENDENT FACTOR- A FACTOR AFFECTING AN ECOSYSTEM RELATIVE TO SIZE (FOR EXAMPLE: FOOD SPACE, AND OTHER LIMITED RESOURCES).
12. CONSUMER- ORGANISM THAT MUST GET FOOD ENERGY FROM OTHER SOURCES (HIGHER LEVELS OF PYRAMID). (HETEROTROPH)
13. GLOBAL WARMING- AN INCREASE IN THE EARTH’S AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DUE TO HARMFUL POLLUTANTS EMITTED BY HUMANS.
14. LEARNED BEHAVIOR- BEHAVIOR THAT IS ACQUIRED THROUGH EXPERIENCE (CHIMPANZEE USING TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH TASK, OR CLASSICAL
15. INNATE BEHAVIOR- INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR WITH WHICH SPECIES ARE BORN (SUCKLING, HIBERNATION, IMPRINTING).
16. SOCIAL BEHAVIOR- BEHAVIOR AMONG MEMBERS OF THE SAME SPECIES (COURTSHIP, AND IN SOME CASES, TERRITORIAL OR AGGRESSIVE).
17. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE- ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE PRACTICE THAT PROMOTES CONSERVATION.
Reforestation
18-DENSITY-INDEPENDENT FACTOR- A FACTOR AFFECTING AN ECOSYSTEM REGARDLESS OF SIZE (FOR EXAMPLE: WEATHER, CLIMATE, AND NATURAL DISASTERS.)
19. GYMNOSPERM- VASCULAR PLANT THAT PRODUCES CONES.
20. CARRYING CAPACITY- THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ORGANISMS AN ENVIRONMENT CAN
SUPPORT DUE TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
Swarm of locusts exceeding Carrying Capacity
21. ANGIOSPERM- VASCULAR PLANT THAT PRODUCES FLOWERS AND FRUITS (SEEDS CONTAINED IN AN OVARY).
22. XYLEM- TYPE OF VASCULAR TISSUE THAT TRANSPORTS
WATER FROM THE ROOTS THROUGH THE STEMS TO THE LEAVES OF A PLANT.
23. PHLOEM- TYPE OF VASCULAR TISSUE THAT TRANSPORTS
SUGAR AND OTHER DISSOLVED NUTRIENTS THROUGHOUT THE PLANT.