Roots of Common Terms in Ecology: Organisms and Their Environments
(L – Latin, G – Greek, F – French, U – Unknown origin)
Abiotic
a = not (L); bios = life, living (G)
Biotic
bios = life, living (G)
Carnivore
carnem = flesh (L); vorare = to devour, to eat (L)
Commensalism
com = together (L); mensa = table (L); literally, "to eat at the same table"; -ism (from Latin isma) is a suffix that turns nouns into actions, states, conditions, or doctrines
Community
com = together (L); unitas = oneness, sameness (L)
Consumer
com = together (L); sumere = to take (L)
Detritivore
detri = to wear away (L); vorare = to devour, to eat (L)
Ecology
oikos = house, dwelling place (G); logia = study of (G)
Ecosystem
oikos = house, dwelling place (G); systema = organized whole (G)
Exponential
exponere = to put forth (L)
Eutrophication
eu = true (G); trophe = nourishment (G)
Herbivore
herb = grass (L); vorare = to devour, to eat (L)
Iteroparous
itero = to repeat (L); pario = to beget (L)
Logistic
logistikos = pertaining to logic (G)
Mutualism
mutuus = reciprocal, done in exchange (L); -ism (from Latin isma) is a suffix that turns nouns into actions, states, conditions, or doctrines
Niche
nichier = to nestle or nest (F)
Omnivore:
omnis = all, every (L); vorare = to devour, to eat (L)
Parasite
para = beside (G); sitos = food (U)
Parasitism
para = beside (G); sitos = food (U); literally "to eat at the table of another"; -ism (from Latin isma) is a suffix that turns nouns into actions, states, conditions, or doctrines
Semelparous
semel = once (L); pario = to beget (L)
Trophic
trophe = nourishment (G)