Ecosystems and Energy (Week 1)

Two species living in a close and long-term association with one another in an ecosystem

The struggle of individuals, either within or between species, to obtain a shared limited resource

The principle stating that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist

When two species evolve to divide a resource based on difference in their behavior or morphology

An interaction in which one animal typically kills and consumes another animal

A specialized type of predator that lays eggs inside other organisms - referred to as the host

An interaction in which one organism lives on or in another organism, referred to as the host

A parasite that causes disease in its host

An interaction in which an animal consumes plants or algae

An interaction between two species that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species

The process by which plants and algae use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2)

An interaction between two species in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed or helped

A species that lives in its historical range, typically where it has lived for thousands or millions of years

A species living outside its historical range. Also known as alien species

An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must therefore obtain its energy by consuming other organisms. Also known as heterotroph

A consumer that eats producers. Also known a primary consumer

A consumer that ears other consumers

A carnivore that eats primary consumers

A carnivore that eats secondary consumers

The successive levels of organisms consuming one another

The sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers

An organism that consumes dead animals

An organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles

Fungi and bacteria that complete the breakdown process by converting organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem