food chain
Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
food web
A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains
energy pyramid
Shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
organism
A living thing
producer
An organism that makes its own food (plant)
examples of producers
grass, oak tree, sunflower, rose bush
consumer
An organism that eats other organisms (animal)
primary consumer
An organism that eats producers
secondary consumer
An organism that eats primary consumers
tertiary consumer
An organism that eats secondary consumers
decomposer
An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
examples of decomposers
mushroom, bacteria, fungi
herbivore
A consumer that eats only plants.
carnivore
A consumer that eats only animals.
omnivore
A consumer that eats both plants and animals
examples of herbivores
rabbit, deer, sheep, cow
examples of carnivores
tiger, lion, crocodile, wolf, polar bear
examples of omnivores
human, black bear, squirrel, pig
photosynthesis
process that plants (producers) use, sun convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches