Scinece-ecosystems

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms (biotic factors) interacting with non-living things (abiotic factors) in their environment.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

Community

All the different populations of species living together in one area.

Habitat

The natural environment where an organism lives.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring.

Herbivore

An animal that eats only plants.

Carnivore

An animal that eats only other animals.

Omnivore

An organism that eats both plants and animals.

Producer

An organism, usually a plant or algae, that produces its own food using sunlight (photosynthesis).

Consumer

An organism that eats other organisms to get energy.

Decomposer

Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead material and recycle nutrients.

Food Chain

A sequence that shows how energy is transferred from one organism to another.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnected food chains.

Abiotic Factor

A non-living part of the environment (e.g. sunlight, water, temperature, soil).

Biotic Factor

A living part of the environment (e.g. animals, plants, bacteria).

Competition

When organisms fight for the same resources such as food, light, or space.

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals.

Prey

An animal that is hunted and eaten by predators.

Adaptation

A feature that helps an organism survive in its environment.

Bioindicator

A species used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem (e.g. frogs or lichens).

Pollution

The presence of harmful substances in the environment that negatively affect living organisms.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to make food from carbon dioxide and water.

Energy Pyramid

A diagram showing energy loss at each trophic level in a food chain or web — energy decreases as you move up.