Unit 6 - Ecology - Vocabulary

Food Web

A diagram that shows feeding interactions between many organisms in an ecosystem through multiple intersecting pathways.

Ozone layer

A layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3).

Food chain

Describes a single pathway that energy and nutrients may follow in an ecosystem

Biotic

Meaning of or related to life, are living factors

Producer

Organisms like plants that are able to use light energy from the Sun to produce food or sugars from carbon dioxide and water.

Carnivore

Organisms that eat meat

Herbivore

Organisms that eat plants

Omnivore

Organisms that eat plants and meat- examples include bears, pigs, and humans

Decomposers

Organisms that feed on decaying matter - examples include bacteria and fungi

Sustainable developmen

Something that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Over-farming

Taking too much away from the land and not returning enough back.

Acid Rain

The burning of fossil fuels releases nitrogen and sulfur compounds, these compounds combine with water vapor in the air to produce acid.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things.

Limiting factor

Things that prevent a population from growing any larger.

Biome

is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted to that particular environment.

Abiotic

means not alive

Consumer

organisms that cannot make their own food, but must eat something else.

Invasive Species

other organisms that are introduced into an area that is outside their normal habitat.