Ecosystems key words

Habitat

The place where an organism lives

Species

Group of organisms with similar characteristics, and potentially able to interbreed and have fertile offspring

Population

A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same place, at the same time

10% rule

The approximate amount of energy transferred from one feeding level to the next

Top carnivore

The organism(s) occupying the highest feeding level

Producer

Autotrophic organisms that make the organic matter that others in the food chain depend upon

Consumer

The organisms which feed on primary producers

Community

All of the organisms, of all the different species in a habitat, living and interacting with each other (i.e. collection of populations)

Niche

The role that an organism has within the system