Game Smartz

Ecosystems and Communities

Science

Ecosystems and Communities Chapter Video

Ecosystems and Communities Chapter Video

aphotic zone

the deep ocean zone that never receives sunlight
aphotic zone Simple Definition

canopy

a dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall trees
canopy Simple Definition

climate

the average weather conditions of an area, over a long period of time
climate Simple Definition

commensalism

a relationship where one species benefits but the other is neither helped nor harmed
commensalism Simple Definition

community

populations that live in the same habitat
community Simple Definition

competitive exclusion

two species cannot occupy the same niche in a habitat at the same time
competitive exclusion Simple Definition

coniferous

a tree with seed-bearing cones that keeps its needles (leaves) all year, like a pine or redwood tree
coniferous Simple Definition

deciduous

a tree that sheds its leaves each year, like an oak or maple tree
deciduous Simple Definition

desert

a biome with very little rainfall or plant life
desert Simple Definition

ecological succession

a gradual change in a community following a disturbance
ecological succession Simple Definition

estuary

an area where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water
estuary Simple Definition

grassland

a biome covered by grasses and fertile soil
grassland Simple Definition

habitat

the place where an organism lives
habitat Simple Definition

intertidal zone

the shoreline between high and low tide
intertidal zone Simple Definition

limiting factor

an environmental factor that limits population growth, for example, a drought
limiting factor Simple Definition

microclimate

the climate within a small area that differs from the surrounding climate
microclimate Simple Definition

mutualism

a symbiotic relationship between two species in which both benefit
mutualism Simple Definition

niche

the role an animal or plant plays in its habitat
niche Simple Definition

parasitism

a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed
parasitism Simple Definition

photic zone

the upper ocean with sunlight
photic zone Simple Definition

pioneer species

the first species to populate an area
pioneer species Simple Definition

plankton

tiny microscopic organisms that float or drift in water
plankton Simple Definition

predation

an interaction where one organism kills another for food
predation Simple Definition

primary succession

colonization of a barren land by pioneer organisms
primary succession Simple Definition

secondary succession

in an ecosystem where the community is destroyed but the soil is not
secondary succession Simple Definition

symbiosis

the close relationship between organisms of different species
symbiosis Simple Definition

taiga

an evergreen forest biome with cold winters
taiga Simple Definition

tolerance

an organism's ability to survive against unfavorable environmental factors
tolerance Simple Definition

tropical rain forest

a warm biome with a lot of rain and lush plant growth
tropical rain forest Simple Definition

tundra

a treeless biome with long cold winters and short cool summers
tundra Simple Definition

weather

the atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, like raining and cold
weather Simple Definition

wetland

an area of land that is periodically underwater
wetland Simple Definition

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