Vocabulary Terms 2
abiotic factors - the non living parts of an ecosystem
adaptation - an inherited trait that increases an organism's chance or survival and reproduction in a certain environment
biotic factors - the living parts of an ecosystem
coevolution - when two or more species evolve as a response to each other
commensalism - a relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed or helped
community - a group of interacting popultions of different species
competition - two or more organisms of the same or different species attempt to use thesame limited resource
ecosystem - includes all the different organisms living in a certain area, along with their physical environment
evolution - a change in the genetic characteristics of populations from one generation to the next
extinction - the irreversible disappearance of a population or a species
habitat - the actual place an organism lives
host - the organism a parasite takes its nourishment from
mutualism - a cooperative parnership between two species in which both species benefit
natural selection - the unequal survival and reproduction that results from the presence or absence or particular traits
niche - an organisms way of life
organism - one individual living thing
parasites - organisms that live in or on another organism and feed on it without immediately killing it
parasitism - the relationship between the parasite and its host
population - a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place
predation - relationship where one organisms kills and eats another organism
predator - the organism that does the killing and eating
prey - the organism that is eaten
species - a group of organisms that are able to porduce fertile offspring, and that share common genes and therefore resemble each other