Ecosystems

ecosystem definition

all the living organisms that interact with one another in a defined area, as well as the abiotic, physical factors present in the region

community definition

all the populations of the living organisms in a particular habitat

habitat definition

the particular place where an organism is found

population definition

all the individuals if a single species in a particular place at particular time

species definition

a group of individuals that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

abiotic factors definition

the non-living or physical characteristics of an ecosystem

biotic factor definitions

the presence of, the population size, and the interactions between the living organisms in an ecosystem

what are the types of abiotic factors

• climatic factor

• edaphic factor

climatic factor definition

the abiotic factors associated with the climate

edaphic factor definition

the abiotic factors associated with the soil

food web definition

many interconnected possible routes of energy and biomass through an ecosystem

food chain definition

a single possible route of energy and biomass through a food

what do the arrows in food webs and food chains mean

they repersent the flow of energy or biomass

tropic level definition

each stage in a food chain / a feeding level

autrotroph definition

an organism which converts inorganic molecules into organic molecules and in doing so converts light energy into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis

what is another word for autotroph?

producer

heterotroph definition

organisms which obtain their organic molecules and energy by feeding on other organisms

what is another word for heterotroph

consumer

primary consumer definition

animals that eat producers in a food chain

secondary consumer definition

animals that eat primary consumers in a food chain

tertiary consumer definition

animals that eat secondary consumers in a food chain