Ecology and Trophic Levels

Ecology

The scientific study of how living things interact with each other and the environment.

Biotic Factors

The living parts of an environment. -Plants animals, microorganisms

Abiotic Factors

The nonliving parts of an environment. -Sunlight, water, air, rocks, soil, etc.

Organism

An individual living thing. -Animal, plant, or single-celled life form

Species

A group of the same type of organism that is physically and genetically similar and can reproduce with each other.

Population

All the members of a species living in a specific area at any given time.

Community

An assemblage of different populations of organisms living together in a specific area. These populations interact with one another and their environment, forming a dynamic network of relationships.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting populations of organisms that includes the physical environment they share. Consists of biotic (living) factors such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as abiotic (nonliving) factors like sunlight, water, and nutrients. Function through complex interactions and energy flows, maintaining balance and supporting biodiversity.

Energy

The ability to do work or function. Represented by arrows in a food chain/food web (arrows dictate the direction of energy flow)

Trophic Level

The place an organism has in a food chain, based on its feeding relationships. -Greek word “trophe” means food.

Food Chain

A diagram that shows a single pathway of energy from one organism to another in an environment.

Food Web

A diagram that shows many interconnected pathways of energy (food chains) in an environment.

Equilibrium

A stable situation in which biotic and abiotic factors are balanced. - Populations of each organism will not change very much

Producer

An organism that can make its own food/energy (also known as an autotroph). -Examples: a plant during photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use energy from the sun, water, and carbon dioxide (Co2) to synthesize (make) their own food (glucose) and oxygen with the help of chlorophyll.

Consumer

An organism that cannot produce its own food and relies on consuming other organisms for energy (also known as heterotrophs). Can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. They play a crucial role in the food chain by transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels. -Use primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. to show where the consumer fits in a food chain.

Herbivore

An organism that primarily feeds on plants. Are usually considered primary consumers in the food chain, playing a vital role in transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels. -Examples: deer, cows, and elephants

Carnivore

An organism that primarily feeds on other animals. Can be secondary or tertiary consumers in the food chain, playing an essential role in regulating herbivore populations and transferring energy up the trophic levels. -Examples: Coyotes, foxes, lions, and sharks

Omnivore

An organism that feeds on both plants and animals. Can occupy various trophic levels in the food chain, acting as both primary and secondary consumers, and contribute to energy transfer between producers and higher consumers. -Examples: humans, bears, and raccoons

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down the cells of dead animals and recycles nutrients (or whichever materials) back into the ecosystem. ____________, such as fungi and bacteria, play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and maintaining ecosystem health.

Detritivore

An organism that feeds on detritus (dead organic matter, such as decomposing plant and animal material). Earthworms and certain insects, help in breaking down and recycling nutrients within the ecosystem. -Other examples: millipedes, flies, and crabs

Scavenger

An organism (mostly carnivorous) that consumes dead animals or decaying plant material. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by helping to clean up the environment by breaking down and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. They prevent the spread of disease by consuming carrion and decomposing materials. Examples include vultures, hyenas, and certain types of insects like beetles.