1.

Ecology Vocabulary

Word Meaning

Ecosystem All the living and non-living things in an area working together

Producer A plant or organism that makes its own food using sunlight
(like grass)

Consumer An animal that eats other plants or animals for energy

Decomposer Breaks down dead plants and animals (like fungi or bacteria)

Habitat The place where an organism lives

Population A group of the same species living in the same area

Community All the different species living together in an area

Food Chain A line showing who eats whom in an ecosystem

2. Energy Pyramid

●​ A diagram showing how energy flows through an ecosystem.

●​ The bottom has producers (most energy).​

●​ Then come primary consumers (herbivores), then secondary and tertiary

consumers.​

●​ As you move up, energy decreases (only 10% passes to the next level).​

🟩 Producers → 🐇 Herbivores → 🦊 Carnivores → 🦅 Top Predators

3. Ecological Succession

●​ Definition: Natural process of how ecosystems change over time.​

●​ Two types:​

○​ Primary Succession: Happens where there was no life before (like lava rock or
bare land)​

○​ Secondary Succession: Happens after a disturbance (like fire or flood)​

Example: After a volcanic eruption → moss grows → grass → bushes → trees

4. Levels of Organization (from smallest to largest)

Level Example

Organism One deer

Population All deer in a forest

Community Deer, rabbits, trees, fungi

Ecosystem Forest + soil + sunlight + rain

Biome Temperate forest or desert

Biosphere All life on Earth

 Stage What Happens Helpful Bacteria

1. Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria in soil or plant roots turn N₂ (air Nitrogen-fixing

nitrogen) into ammonium (NH₄⁺) bacteria

2. Nitrification Other bacteria convert NH₄⁺ into NO₃⁻ Nitrifying bacteria

(nitrates)

3. Assimilation (Not Plants absorb nitrates and animals eat plants —

shown)

4. Denitrification Some bacteria turn nitrates (NO₃⁻) back into Denitrifying

N₂ gas, returning it to the air bacteria

🧠 What is Symbiosis?
Symbiosis means a close long-term relationship between two different living organisms.​
At least one of them always benefits from the relationship.

🔍 Types of Symbiosis
 Type What It Means Who Example
Benefits?

Mutualism Both organisms 😊+😊 Bees & flowers: Bees get nectar,
benefit flowers get pollinated

Commensalism One benefits, the 😊+😐 Barnacles on a whale: Barnacles

other is not affected travel, whale is unaffected

Parasitism One benefits, the 😊+😞 Flea on a dog: Flea feeds, dog
other is harmed

Topic Explanation

Species A species is a type of organism. Scientists use double names

(binomial nomenclature) like Homo sapiens (humans) and Vitis vinifera
(grape vine). The first name is the genus, the second is the species
name.

Sexual Involves male and female gametes fusing to form a zygote. Occurs in
Reproduction both plants and animals. Involves meiosis, a special division that
halves the chromosome number.

Asexual Only one parent is involved. Offspring have the same genes. No
Reproduction gametes or fusion involved.

Gametes Reproductive cells: male gametes (sperm/pollen) are smaller and

mobile; female gametes (eggs/ovules) are larger and stationary.

Zygote A fertilized egg formed by the fusion of male and female gametes. It
marks the beginning of a new life.
Mating The process of sperm being inserted into the female’s body.

Ovulation Release of an egg from the ovary. The egg travels to the uterus via the
oviduct and can be fertilized there.

Hermaphrodites Organisms that produce both male and female gametes. Example:
many plants and some animals like earthworms.

Male vs Female Most organisms are either male (produce only male gametes) or
female (produce only female gametes). Even hermaphrodites have
different male/female gametes.

Gamete Fusion in 1. In mosses and ferns, male gametes swim to eggs (need moisture).2.
Plants In flowering plants, male gametes are inside pollen. Pollen travels to
the stigma, and then a tube grows to deliver the gamete to the egg.

Pollen Tiny grains with male gametes in flowering plants and conifers.

Pollination The transfer of pollen from male to female parts of plants. If it happens
within the same plant, it’s called self-pollination.

Fertilization Fusion of male and female gametes. Combines genes from two
parents. Only chromosomes from male gametes are needed, the egg
provides all other cell parts.

Development after In mammals, the embryo develops inside the mother, who provides
Fertilization food and protection.

What are cells? Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things.

Types of organisms - Unicellular = made of 1 cell (e.g. bacteria)

- Multicellular = made of many cells (e.g. humans,
plants)

Plant cells vs Animal cells - Both have nucleus, mitochondria, and cell
membrane
 - Only plant cells have chloroplasts, cell wall, and
large vacuole

Main parts of a cell - Nucleus: Stores DNA, controls the cell

- Mitochondria: Makes energy from food
- Chloroplasts: Makes food using sunlight (plants
only)
- Vacuole: Stores water and substances

Extra parts in plant cells - Cell wall: Strong outer layer for protection
- Chlorophyll: Green pigment in chloroplasts that
helps photosynthesis

Microscope use steps 1. Plug it in and turn on the light

2. Place the slide on the stage
3. Start with the shortest lens
4. Use coarse focus to get close (don’t touch!)
5. Look through eyepiece
6. Adjust focus until you see clearly
7. Use fine focus to sharpen
8. Move slide to find best spot
9. Center it in the light circle
10. Use a higher-power lens if needed

Body parts made of cells ✅ Muscle ✅ Nerve ✅ Skin ✅ Bone — All are
made of cells!

Example of a cell without Red Blood Cell in humans (doesn’t have nucleus or
nucleus/mitochondria mitochondria)

Plant vs Animal Cell Plant cells can handle more pressure because they
Pressure have a strong cell wall

Vascular Plants Summary Table

 Category Features Examples

Vascular - Have xylem (for water) and phloem (for Ferns, flowers, pine
Plants food) trees
- Found on land

🔹 Types of Vascular Plants

Type Features Examples

Non-Seed - Do not produce seeds Ferns

Plants - Reproduce using spores
- Hidden reproductive organs

Seed Plants - Produce seeds Angiosperms,

- Have visible reproductive organs (flowers Gymnosperms
or cones)

🌸 Types of Seed Plants

Type Features Examples

Angiosperms - Flowering plants Roses, Apples,

- Seeds enclosed in fruit Tulips
- Produce endosperm

Gymnosper - Cone-bearing plants Pine trees, Fir trees

ms - Seeds not enclosed ("naked
seeds")
- No flowers