Interdependence Among Living Systems

1. Interdependence Among Living Systems WRITE THE BELOW KEY UNDERSTANDINGS IN CJ!! There is interdependence between organisms and their environment.—   What are the biotic factors an ecosystem?—   What are some abiotic factors in an ecosystem?—   For what resources may organisms have to compete?—   In what ways do organisms depend on each other?—   How are organisms and their environment interdependent?

2. Predator • Animal, such as a lion, that kills and eats other animals (prey).

3. Prey Organism that is killed and eaten by another organism (predator).

4. Parasite Organism, such as a tick, that feeds on cells, tissues, or fluids of another living organism (the host).

5. Host • Organism that supports a parasite.

6. Mutualism Relationship between two species in which both species benefit.

7. Commensalism • Relationship between species in which one species is helped and the other is unaffected.

8. Biotic Abiotic Of, relating to, or caused by living things. Not biotic!

9. Ecosystem • The living and non-living components of an environment.

10. Competition • In an ecosystem, occurs when more than one individual or population tries to make use of the same limited resource.

11. Interdependent • Relating to two or more people or things dependent on each other.

12. Trait Feature that an organism inherits from its parents, such as eye color, that is coded for by DNA.

13. Artificial Reef • A human-made underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom.

14. Pollution Any change in the environment that is harmful to organisms.

15. Runoff Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams or lakes.

16. Drought • A long period of dry weather.