4.2-4.3 Vocabulary

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Producer

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An organism, usually a plant or algae, that produces its own food through photosynthesis and serves as a primary source of energy in a food chain.

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Consumer

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An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or organic matter due to its inability to produce its own food.

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Decomposer

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An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organisms and organic waste, returning nutrients to the environment.

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Food Chain

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A linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next member in the chain, showing the flow of energy and nutrients.

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Food Web

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A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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Energy Pyramid

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A graphical representation showing the flow of energy at different trophic levels in an ecosystem, with producers at the base and top predators at the top.

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Law of Conservation of Mass

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A principle stating that mass in an isolated system is neither created nor destroyed by chemical reactions or physical transformations.

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Law of Conservation of Energy

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A principle stating that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant, though it may change forms, such as from kinetic to potential energy.

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Evaporation

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The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor, typically from the surface of bodies of water.

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Condensation

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The process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water, often forming clouds or dew.