ecosystem
All of the living and non-living things and all of their interactions in an area
living things
Characterized by having a metabolism and the ability to maintain life processes
non-living things
A part of the ecosystem that is not living, such as sunlight, air (includes oxygen and carbon dioxide), water, rocks, and soil
organism
a living thing
population
More than one organism of the same species
community
A group of different organisms in a specific area
photosynthesis
Process in which plants use energy from the sun to make their own food.
producers
organisms that can make their own food
consumers
organisms that have to eat other organisms for nourishment.
carnivore
animals that eat other animals (meat)
herbivores
animals that eat only plants
omnivores
animals that eat both plants and animals
decomposers
Fungi, bacteria, worms and some insects break down dead material and turn it into nutrients in the soil, which plants use to grow
predator
organism that hunts other organisms
prey
organism that gets hunted