Interactions of Living Things

coevolution

the evolution of two species that is due to mutual influence, often in a way that makes the relationship more beneficial to both species

population

the group of organisms of the same species that live a specific geographical area

carrying capacity

the largest population that an environment can support at any given time

biosphere

the part of Earth where life exists

food chain

the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms

ecology

the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment

ecosystem

a community of organisms and their abiotic environment

food web

a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem

commensalism

a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

mutualism

a relationship between two species in which both species benefit

parasitism

a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed

symbiosis

a relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other

energy pyramid

a triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem's loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem's food chain

community

all of the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other

carnivore

an organism that eats animals

omnivore

an organism that eats both plants and animals

herbivore

an organism that eats only plants

prey

an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism

predator

an organism that kills and eats all or part of another organism

biotic

describes living factors in the environment

abiotic

describes the nonliving part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature