ECOLOGY WORDS

SPECIALIST

• An organism that can only use a small range of resources
• Orchid Mantis - thrives only on orchids; can only live where orchids are present

GENERALIST

• An organism that can use a wide variety of resources
• Horseshoe crab - can eat wide variety of things on the sea floor as well as being able to survive in wide range of temperatures

CONFORMER

• An organism whose internal environment is greatly influenced by external factors
• Armadillo Girdled Lizard: must use the sun and shade to regulate his body temperature

REGULATOR

• Organism that can maintain a constant internal environment independently of the external environment
• Baiji Dolphine: does not need to rely on the sun or shade to regulate its body temperature

MUTUALISM

• Both species benefit from the relationship
• Ostriches and Zebras: zebras have poor eyesight and ostriches have poor hearing and sense of smell. Zebras can hear and smell danger, and ostriches can see danger, so the two are found around each other, ready to alert the other of danger if need be.

PARASITISM

• One species benefits by harming but not killing the other species
• Trypanosoma: a parasite that infects humans and causes them to have rapid mood swings, intense and random terror, and a disruption in their sleep cycle.

COMMENSALISM

• Neither species receives a benefit or is harmed
• Pseudoscorpions and beetles: because of their size they don't cause any harm to the beetle they stay on

PREDATION

• A carnivore
• Hyena: will eat any animals and every part of the animal

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COMPITITION

• Fight for resources
• Nearly all carnivores fight for the the supply of food being theirs