Energy and Matter in Ecosystems Flashcards
food chain
model that links organisms by their feeding relationships
food web
model that shows the complex network of feeding relationships within an ecosystem
biomass
total dry mass of all organisms in a given area
energy pyramid
a diagram that compares energy used by producers
biomass pyramid
a diagram that compares the biomass of different trophic levels within an ecosystem
pyramid of numbers
a diagram that shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem
trophic
relating to feeding and nutrition.
reservoir
any location where cycling matter is stored
fossil fuel
a nonrenewable energy source formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago
producer
(plants) an organism that produces organic compounds from simple substances such as sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide; an autotroph.
primary consumer
organisms that eat producers—plants or algae—and nothing else.
secondary consumer
organisms that eats primary consumers
tertiary consumer
organisms that eats primary and secondary consumers
decomposer
living things that get energy by eating dead animals and plants and breaking down wastes of other animals