Studied by 76 people
Decomposition
the process by which decomposers break down dead material and waste into simpler substances
Energy Pyramid
A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one trophic level to another in a food chain
Photosynthesis
process by which producers / plants use the energy in sunlight to create their own food
Trophic Level
the position that an organism occupies in a food chain, food web, or energy pyramid (e.g., producer, primary consumer, etc.)
Consumer
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms in a food chain/web/pyramid
Producer
An organism that makes its own food in a food chain/web/pyramid
Primary Consumer
An organism that eats producers
Secondary Consumer
An organism that eats primary consumers
Tertiary Consumer
An organism that eats secondary consumers
Top Consumer/Apex Predator
the last consumer in a food chain; is not directly preyed upon
Autotroph
Broad category organisms that make their own food
Heterotroph
An organism that cannot make its own food.
Food Web
a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.
Food Chain
A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
Biomass
total amount of organisms within a trophic level
10% Law
Only 10% of the energy in one trophic level gets passed onto the next trophic level
Herbivore
organism that obtains energy by eating producers
Carnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating consumers
Omnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating both producers and consumers
Scavenger
A carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms
Detritivore
organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter
Decomposer
an organism, especially bacteria, fungus or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
heat
Energy lost to the environment in an energy pyramid.
10%
The amount of energy that is lost as energy moves from one trophic level to the next
Plants Release
Oxygen
Plants take in
Carbon Dioxide
Animals breathe out
Carbon Dioxide
Animals breathe in
Oxygen
Nutrients
Substances organisms need to survive, grow, and reproduce
Primary
1 (one)
Secondary
2 (two)
Tertiary
3 (three)
from bottom to top
The direction energy moves in an energy pyramid
bottom
where the most energy/biomass exists in an energy pyramid
top
where the least energy/biomass exists in an energy pyramid
Note 
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