ADAPTATIONS AND CHANGES IN ECOSYSTEMS

Vocabulary and pictures

DEFINITION A group of organisms

of one kind that live together in one

location.

POPULATION

DEFINITION A group of

populations that live together.

COMMUNITY

DEFINITION A role or job an

organism has in an ecosystem.

NICHE

DEFINITION A kind of contest among populations

with the same niche.

COMPETITION

DEFINITION A trait or

characteristic that helps an organism

to survive.

ADAPTATION

DEFINITION Body structures

that help an animal to survive.

PHYSICAL ADAPTATION

DEFINITION

Actions that help an animal

to survive.

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION

DEFINITION The movement of animals from one

area to another in a regular cycle.

MIGRATION

DEFINITION

The death of all the organisms of

a species.

EXTICTION

DEFINITION Conditions in an

ecosystem that keep a population from growing beyond a

certain size.

LIMITING FACTORS

DEFINITION An animal that kills

and eats other animals.

PREDATOR

DEFINITION An animal that is killed and eaten by

another animal (predator).

PREY

DEFINITION

Helpful

BENEFICIAL

DEFINITION Does not help or

harm; has no effect on

NEUTRAL

DEFINITION

Harmful

DETRIMENTAL