producers
organisms that can absorb the energy of the sun and convert it into food through the process of photosynthesis; i.e. plants and algae
consumers
organisms that must eat or consume other organisms to obtain energy and nutrients
decomposers
organisms that obtain nutrients and energy by breaking down dead organisms and animal wastes
predator
consumer that hunts and kills another consumer
prey
species that is hunted and killed by another species
food chain
diagram that shows feeding interactions in an ecosystem through a single pathway
food web
diagram that shows feeding interactions between many organisms in an ecosystem through multiple intersecting pathways
invasive species
a species introduced into a habitat where they do not naturally occur; also known as a non-native species
capacity
the number of organisms an ecosystem can support
habitat
the physical area where a species lives
ecosystem
a community of living organisms and their interaction with non-living components within an evironment
environment
the living and non-living factors interacting in a particular area
energy flow
the representation of transfer and use of energy among organisms; often shown using a food chain or food web
photosynthesis
process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy sugars
respiration
The process by which cells break down simple sugar molecules to release the energy they contain
reactants
elements or compounds that do the reacting in a chemical reaction
products
the resulting substances that are formed by the chemical change
Law of Conservation of Matter
matter is not created nor destroyed in any chemical or physical change but may change forms
Law of Conservation of Energy
energy is not created nor destroyed but may change forms
carbon cycle
the series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, through photosynthesis and respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.
matter
anything, made of atoms or molecules, which has mass and takes up space
energy
the ability to do work or cause change; examples include chemical, mechanical, heat, light, and sound
mitochondria
powerhouse organelle of plant and animal cells, where chemical energy is converted to usable mechanical energy
chloroplast
organelle found in cells of plants and some other organisms that captures the energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy
chlorophyll
Green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy (particularly red and blue) used to carry out photosynthesis