Question

ecology vocabulary: interactions within the environment
use the reading to match the vocabulary term with the appropriate definition.

1. study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment
2. living things within an ecosystem
3. one of any living thing
4. place where an organism lives and that provides the types of food, shelter,

moisture, and temperature needed for survival

1. chain showing how energy passes from one organism to the next
2. any close relationship between species, including mutualism, commensalism, and

parasitism.

1. animal that hunts and kills other animals for food. a predator is a consumer

carnivore or omnivore

1. largest number of individuals of a particular species that an ecosystem can support

over time

1. non - living parts of ecosystem - air/water/soil/sun
2. all the living organisms that live in an area and the nonliving features of their

environment

1. large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystems. includes: tundra,

desert, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, grassland, arctic tundra, temperate deciduous forest

1. in an ecosystem, refers to the unique ways an organism survives, obtains food and

shelter, and avoids danger

1. anything that can limit the size of a population, including living and nonliving

features of an ecosystem, such as predators or drought

1. shows the direction in which energy flows. as the amount of available energy

decreases, the pyramid gets smaller. each layer on a pyramid is called a
level

1. through an ecosystem - the transfer of energy from one organism to another

through food webs

1. organism that makes its own food, autotroph.
2. organism that cannot make own food, a heterotroph
3. consume wastes and dead organisms
4. complex network of many interconnected food chains and feeding relationships
5. animal that is hunted and caught for food. prey is a consumer; it may be a

herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore

1. eat herbivores, omnivores, or other carnivores
2. eat producers and consumers
3. free response:
4. what are the three types of symbiosis? using the symbols (+) for positive, (-) for negative, and (0) for

neutral, describe what each organism gets out of the relationship for each type of interaction.
a.
b.
c.

1. list some limiting factors that might limit the size of a population within its environment?

i.e. increased hunting by man and drought

Explanation:

1. Ecology: The study of interactions among organisms and their environment.
2. Biotic factors: Living things within an ecosystem.
3. Habitat: Place where an organism lives and provides resources for survival.
4. Food - chain: Chain showing energy transfer between organisms.
5. Symbiosis: Close relationship between species.
6. Predator: Animal that hunts other animals for food.
7. Carrying - capacity: Largest number of individuals an ecosystem can support.
8. Abiotic factors: Non - living parts of an ecosystem.
9. Ecosystem: All living and non - living features in an area.
10. Biome: Large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystems.
11. Niche: Unique ways an organism survives, gets food and shelter, and avoids danger.
12. Limiting factor: Anything that limits population size.
13. Energy pyramid: Shows direction of energy flow, with smaller levels as energy decreases.
14. Energy transfer: Transfer of energy through food webs.
15. Producer: Organism that makes its own food.
16. Consumer: Organism that cannot make its own food.
17. Decomposer: Consumes wastes and dead organisms.
18. Food web: Complex network of interconnected food chains.
19. Prey: Animal that is hunted for food.
20. Carnivore: Eats herbivores, omnivores, or other carnivores.
21. Omnivore: Eats producers and consumers.
22. For question 24: The three types of symbiosis are mutualism (+/+), commensalism (+/0), and parasitism (+/ -). In mutualism, both organisms benefit. In commensalism, one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. In parasitism, one organism benefits and the other is harmed.
23. For question 25: Other limiting factors can include disease, competition for resources, natural disasters, and availability of water.

Answer:

1. Ecology
2. Biotic factors
3. Habitat
4. Food - chain
5. Symbiosis
6. Predator
7. Carrying - capacity
8. Abiotic factors
9. Ecosystem
10. Biome
11. Niche
12. Limiting factor
13. Energy pyramid
14. Energy transfer
15. Producer
16. Consumer
17. Decomposer
18. Food web
19. Prey
20. Carnivore
21. Omnivore
22. a. Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (+/+). b. Commensalism: One organism benefits, the other is unaffected (+/0). c. Parasitism: One organism benefits, the other is harmed (+/ -).
23. Disease, competition for resources, natural disasters, water availability.