bio flashcards

autotroph

organism that produces its own food

primary producer

organisms that can create their own food using photo or chemosynthesis

photosynthesis

the process in which plants use sunlight to create their own food

heterotroph

organisms that gain energy + nutrients by consuming other organisms

consumer

organisms that gain energy by eating other organisms

food web

network of chains within an ecosystem

trophic level

indicator of an organism’s position within a food chain

ecological pyramid

diagram that shows distribution of energy in an ecosystem

biomass

total quantity of living organisms in an ecosystem

phytoplankton

microscopic marine algae

detritus

non-living organic matter