Ecosystems Flashcards
abiotic
non-living elements of a habitat, such as wind, water, sunlight, temperature, rocks, soil and periodic disturbances, which are factors that have a direct affect on local species distribution
autotrophic
organisms such as plants that can convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy that will be used by other living things Autotrophic organisms are called primary producers and are the base of any food chain
biochemical
process that occurs in living things
carnivore
consumers that obtain all of their nutritional requirements by eating other animals
chemoautotroph
any organism that produces its energy from chemical compound oxidation, specifically organic compounds containing
community
a geographic area that supports diverse species populations
consumer
organisms unable to produce their own food; obtain all of their nutrition through consumption of other organisms
decomposer
organisms that feed on and break down dead organisms to recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem
detritivore
organisms, such as bacteria and fungus, that survive on the waste product of ecosystems, playing an important role as recyclers
ecosystem
an ecological unit made up of the organisms and environmental characteristics that support it
herbivore
consumers that rely on plant material or producers for their nutritional needs
heterotrophic
organisms that are unable to produce their own food and are reliant upon the consumption of other organisms
metabolism
the living body’s chemical process for the transformation of energy in support of function and activity
population
a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area
primary producers
organisms that produce their own food; plants convert the sun’s energy into the chemical energy used by all living things
