B.12BCDF Environmental Interactions and Effects Picture Vocabulary © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
B.12BCDF Environmental Interactions and Effects
Picture Vocabulary
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
food chain
A sequence of food energy transfer from one organism to another within an
ecological community © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
food web
A depiction of all of the interrelating food chains that exist within an ecological community
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
trophic level
An organism’s position on a food chain
sun
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
ecological pyramid
A depiction of various types of relationships that occur between trophic levels of an
ecological community © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
biome
A region of Earth with a specific climate and organisms adapted to the particular
environment © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
tundra
A biome characterized by vast, ���tree-less plains and extremely cold
temperatures © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
taiga
A biome characterized by its coniferous evergreen forests and cold temperatures
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
desert
A biome characterized by low vegetation, arid conditions and high
temperatures © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
rain forest
A biome characterized by high biodiversity, humid climate, and high
annual precipitation © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
grasslands
A biome characterized by a primary vegetation of grasses, warm to hot
climates, and moderate rainfall © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
temperate forest
A biome characterized by high biodiversity, four distinct seasons,
and moderate climate © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
producer
Autotrophic organisms that undergo photosynthesis
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
consumers
Heterotrophic organisms that must consume other organisms for survival
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
limiting factor
An environmental factor that limits the growth of a population
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
carrying capacity
The maximum number of species an ecosystem can support
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
abiotic factor
All of the non-living factors within an environment
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
biotic factor
All of the living factors within an environment
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
biological competition
A condition that occurs when two or more organisms compete for the same resources
within an ecological community © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
decomposers
Living organisms that break down organic matter, making it
available to primary producers © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
climax community
A stable ecological community that has reached an equilibrium after having
adapted to its environment
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
primary succession
The development of an ecological community in a previously uninhabited
location © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
secondary succession
The development of an ecological community in an area that was once
inhabited but experienced devastation
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
natural disaster
A force of nature that results in catastrophic consequences
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
habitat destruction
A loss of habitat (e.g. deforestation) occurring to an organism’s habitat; man-made or naturally
occurring © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
biodiversity
The total variation of species within a given population
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
scavenger
An organism that feeds on dead or decaying animal remains
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
extinction
A species that is no longer alive
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
primary consumer
An animal that eats the producers
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
secondary consumer
An animal that eats the primary consumers
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
tertiary consumer
An animal that eats the secondary consumers
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
quaternary consumer
An animal that eats the tertiary consumers
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
adaptation
An alteration in an organism’s characteristics that better enables it to survive in its
environment © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
resources
Anything that can be used by an organism for survival
© 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved
energy
The ability to do work © 2012 Rice University - All Rights Reserved