Ecosystems Vocabulary

abiotic factors

• living organisms in an ecosystem

• nonliving things in an ecosystem

• the interactions between living things

• the energy flow in an ecosystem

Habitat

• A place where an organism lives that provides what is needed for survival (food, water, shelter)

• A type of food that organisms consume

• A method of reproduction in animals

• A climate zone where organisms thrive

Herbivore

• only eats producers (plants)

• only eats other animals

• eats both plants and animals

• only eats fungi

Mutualism

• Both organisms benefit from the relationship

• One organism benefits while the other is harmed

• Both organisms are harmed by the relationship

• One organism is unaffected while the other benefits

species

• A group of particular organisms that are living together - they are the same. (example: Cardinal)

• A classification of organisms based on their habitat.

• A type of ecosystem characterized by specific climate conditions.

• A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Community

• All of the populations in an ecosystem. (example: animals)

• A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

• The physical environment where organisms live.

• The interactions between different species in an ecosystem.

Consumer

• animals that can make their own food

• animals that must eat plants or other animals

• animals that only eat plants

• animals that only eat other animals

Organism

• one of any living thing

• a type of cell

• a non-living entity

• a group of similar species

Photosynthesis

• the process that green plants use to change sunlight into food

• the method by which animals convert food into energy

• the way plants absorb water from the soil

• the technique used by plants to reproduce sexually

Producers

• organism that makes its own food (plants)

• organism that consumes other organisms

• organism that decomposes organic material

• organism that relies on sunlight for energy