Unit 6 the circle of life Biology

Population

A group of organisms of the same species

Community

Includes organisms of other species that interact directly or indirectly

Ecosystem

All living organisms in the community plus the nonliving environment

Autotroph

Produce their own food

Heterotrophs

• Obtain food by eating other organisms

• Consume other organisms for energy

Producer

Make their own food also know as autotrophs

Primary consumer

An organism that feeds on producers, such as plants and algae

Secondary consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers

Tertiary consumer

Animal that feeds on secondary consumers

Herbivore

Eat producers

carnivore

Eats other consumers

Omnivores

eats both producers and consumers

Detritivores

Eats dead organic matter which is called detritus

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic matter

biotic factor

Any living or once living component within an ecosystem

Abiotic factor

A nonliving chemical or physical component of an ecosystem

matter

Anything that has mass or takes up space