Biodiversity: The number and variety of organisms found in a specific region

Biodiversity Hotspot: An ecosystem with an exceptionally large number of organisms in a

relatively small area

Niche: The role and function of an organism within an ecosystem

Adaptation: An existing characteristic of an organism that allows it to become better suited to its
environment
Examples: A fishs gills, a giraffes long neck, A chameleons ability to camouflage into its
surroundings

Species: A group of living organisms able to reproduce with each other

Alien Species: A foreign species introduced to a non-native ecosystem, usually as a result of
human activity. Not all
alien species are invasive
Examples: Chicken, Brown Trout, House Gecko, Burmese Python

Invasive Species: A non-native species that has detrimental effects on native species and the
habitat
Examples: Zebra Mussels, Round Goby, Asian Carp, Purple Loosestrife, Emerald Ash Borer,
Mountain Pine Beetle

Dominant Species: The species with the greatest biomass within its community
Keystone Species: A species that can greatly affect the population and health of an ecosystem
Bioaccumulation: A process in which organisms absorb substances, particularly toxins, faster than
they are eliminated

Biomagnification: A process in which the concentration of toxins increases as it moves from one
trophic level to the next

Ecological Footprint: The measure of human impact on the environment in terms of energy use,
pollution, and consumption

Sustainability: The use of the Earths resources in a way so that it can last indefinitely

Ecosystem: All the interacting parts of a biological community

Community: All the populations of the different species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem
Population: All the individuals of a species that live within a defined area at a certain time
Carrying Capacity: The size of a population that can be supported indefinitely by the available
resources in an

ecosystem

Bottom-Up Regulation: A process in which the abundance of organisms in lower trophic levels
affects the abundance

of organisms at higher trophic levels

Top-Down Regulation: A process in which the abundance of organisms in higher trophic levels
affects the abundance

of organisms at lower trophic levels

Limiting Factor: A factor that limits growth, resource distribution, or population in an ecosystem
Biomass: The amount of energy that can be derived from an organism, usually for use as fuel
Trophic Level: A category of organisms that is defined by how they gain their energy
Trophic Efficiency: A measure of biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next higher
trophic level

Producer: An organism that makes its own food

Consumer: An organism that cannot make its own food, so it eats other organisms to survive
Herbivore: An organism that consumes plants. Often called primary consumer
Carnivore: An organism that consumes meat/flesh. Often called secondary consumer

Omnivore: An organism that consumes both plants and meat/flesh

Decomposer: An organism that breaks down decaying matter, returning nutrients back to the
ecosystem

Biotic: The living characteristics of an ecosystem

Examples: Competition, Predation, Symbiosis
Competition: Occurs when two or more organisms compete for the same resource
simultaneously

Predation: A relationship between two different species in which one feeds on the other
Predator: An organism that kills and consumes other organisms
Prey: An organism that is eaten as food by a predator
Symbiosis: The interaction between members of two different species that live in close
association

Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship
Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship in which one benefits and the other is
unaffected

Parasitism: A symbiotic relationship in which one benefits and the other is harmed
Parasite: An organism in a parasitic relationship that detriments the host
Host: An organism in a parasitic relationship that provides benefit to the parasite
Abiotic: The non-living characteristics of an ecosystem
Examples: Water, Light, Temperature, Humidity, Precipitation, Topography

Photosynthesis: A process that changes light energy into chemical energy

Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light Energy ---> Glucose + Oxygen

Cellular Respiration: A process releasing energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates,
in presence of oxygen
Glucose + Oxygen ---> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

Nutrient: A chemical that is essential to an organisms survival. It is recycled through ecosystems by

decomposers