Organism

form of life, an animal, plant, fungus, protist or bacterium

Population

group of individuals of the same species living in a specific
geographical area and reproducing

Community (ecological)

different populations of organisms interacting in a shared environment

Ecosystem

a system composed of organisms and nonliving components for an environment

Ecology

study of the relationships between organisms and their
interactions with the environment

Abiotic factor

a term that describes a nonliving factor in an ecosyste

Biotic factor

a term that describes a living or once-living organism in an ecosystem

Consumer (ecological)

organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains

Decomposer

an organism that obtains nutrients by consuming dead and decaying
organic matter which allows nutrients to be accessible to other organisms

Autotroph

an organism that can synthesize its food from inorganic
substances using heat or light as a source of energy

Organism

form of life, an animal, plant, fungus, protist or bacterium

Population

group of individuals of the same species living in a specific
geographical area and reproducing

Community (ecological)

different populations of organisms interacting in a shared environment

Ecosystem

a system composed of organisms and nonliving components for
an environment

Ecology

study of the relationships between organisms and their
interactions with the environment

Abiotic factor

a term that describes a nonliving factor in an ecosystem

Biotic factor

a term that describes a living or once-living organism in an
ecosystem

Consumer (ecological)

organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or
their remains

Decomposer

an organism that obtains nutrients by consuming dead and
decaying organic matter which allows nutrients to be accessible to
other organisms

Autotroph

an organism that can synthesize its food from inorganic
substances using heat or light as a source of energy

Carnivore

an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a
diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether
through predation or scavenging.

Detritivore

an organism that feeds on detritus (�trash�, �dead things�,
organic or inorganic matter); a saprophage

Ecology

is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among
organisms and their environment

Ecosystem

an interacting group of living organisms in an area

Herbivore

animals that eat plants

Heterotroph

an organism which requires an external supply of energy in the
form of food because it cannot make its own

Omnivore

An animal which is able to consume both plants (like a
herbivore) and meat (like a carnivore).

Producer (ecological)

an organism that uses a primary energy source to conduct
photosynthesis or chemosynthesis

Biomass

is the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or
ecosystem at a given time.

Food chain

a simplified path illustrating the passing of potential energy
(food) from one organism to another organism

Food web

a complex arrangement of interrelated food chains illustrating
the flow of energy between interdependent organisms

Keystone species

a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its
environment relative to its abundance.

Primary producer

organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or
chemical energy from deep sea vents; are the base of every food
chain; these organisms are called autotrophs.

Energy pyramid

a model that illustrates the biomass productivity at multiple
trophic levels in a given ecosystem.