Vocabulary
A group of individuals of the same species that live, reproduce, and interact in the same area
Population
Organisms that get energy by eating dead organisms and waste - natural recyclers
Decomposers
The variety of species like tigers, elephants, and orchids in India’s rainforests is an example of this ecological concept.
Biodiversity
A species of hermit crab uses an empty sea snail shell for protection. The crab benefits by living inside the shell, while the snail that once lived in the shell is no longer around. What type of interaction is this?
Commensalism
A diagram that shows how food, and the energy it contains, passes from one organism to another in an ecosystem
Food chain
The first living things that moved to the area
Pioneer Species
The original source of almost all energy
The sun!
In a population of moths, those with darker coloration are better camouflaged from predators on soot-covered trees, leading to an increase in their population over time. This is an example of this evolutionary process.
Natural Selection
A small fish species called cleaner fish swims into the mouth of a large predatory fish and eats parasites off the predator’s teeth. The cleaner fish benefits by getting food, and the predatory fish benefits by getting rid of parasites. What type of interaction is this?
mutualism
This type of relationship between organisms is where one benefits while the other is harmed, such as a parasitic worm in a host organism.
Parasitism
Living things in an ecosystem that affect an organism's survival
The trophic level with the least amount of available energy
Tertiary
This term describes a species like the European starling, introduced to North America in the 1890s, that rapidly spreads and causes harm to native species and ecosystems.
This system is responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body while also removing waste products. It includes the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
Circulatory
A species of ant protects a colony of aphids from predators in exchange for a sugary secretion that the aphids produce. The ants benefit from the food, while the aphids are not harmed by the ants' presence. What type of interaction is this?
Mutualism
A community lives and where species interact
Habitat
In a coastal ecosystem, a species of seagull feeds primarily on small fish, crabs, and other marine invertebrates. However, it will occasionally eat plant material or scavenged food. Given its feeding habits and its role in the food web, at which trophic level would you place this seagull?
2nd trophic level or Secondary Consumer
In a forest, a squirrel's role as a seed disperser, its diet of nuts, and its shelter in tree branches all contribute to its specific function within the ecosystem. This is an example of what ecological term?
Niche
This system protects the body from infection, regulates body temperature, and allows for sensations like touch, pain, and temperature. It includes the skin, hair, and nails.
Integumentary
This ecological term refers to a large, stable community of organisms that is typically found in a specific climate, such as a temperate forest or tundra.
Climax Community
A series of changes that happen in a community of organisms over time
Ecological Succession
In an ecosystem, a species of bird feeds primarily on insects and small rodents, but occasionally eats seeds and berries. It plays a crucial role in controlling insect and rodent populations. Given its varied diet, it occupies more than one trophic level. What type of consumer is this bird?
Omnivore!
The 1883 eruption of the volcano Krakatau in Indonesia is an example of what environmental change/process.
Primary succession
This system transports lymph, a fluid containing white blood cells, throughout the body and helps defend against infection. It includes lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleen.
Lymphatic
A person steps on a nail and quickly pulls their foot away due to a rapid, involuntary reaction. Which body system is responsible for this reflex?
Nervous!