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