Module 4: Glossary

• Biotic Impacts

  • Predation
  • Competition
  • Symbiosis
• Predation


  Biological interaction where one organism (predator) kills and eats another (prey)
• Competition


  Biological interaction where two different organisms require the same resources, harming both

  • Intraspecies
  • Interspecies
• Symbiosis


  Biological interaction where two different organisms live in a close relationship. Benefits at least one of them

  • Mutualism
  • Commensalism
  • Parisitism
• Mutualism


  Symbiotic interaction between two species where both benefit from the relationship
• Commensalism


  Symbiotic interaction between two species where one benefits and the other is unaffected
• Parasitism


  Symbiotic interaction between two species where one benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host)
• Food Chain


  Transfer of energy between organisms

  Simple

  Producer --> Herbivore --> Carnivore
• Food Web


  Network of food chains

  Complex
• Intraspecific Competition


  Intraspecies competition, organisms within the same species
• Interspecific Competition


  Interspecies competition, organisms who belong to different species
• Ecological Niche


  Specific role an organism plays in it's ecosystem