Limiting Factors

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

Individual

A single organism.

Community

All the different populations that live together in an area.

Disease

An abnormal state in which the body is not functioning normally.

Predator

An animal that hunts other animals for food.

Producer

An organism that can make its own food.

Prey

An organism that is killed and eaten by another organism.

Consumer

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.

Resource

Any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space.

Nutrient

Compounds in food that the body requires for proper growth, maintenance, and functioning.

Biotic

Describes living (or once living) factors in the environment.

Abiotic

Describes nonliving factors in the environment.

Carrying Capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support.

Climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time.

Habitat

Place where an organism lives.

Ecology

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

Food Availability

Sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis.