The living world-glossary

ecosystem ,biodiversity etc

ecosystem

a community of plants and animals that interact with one another and their physical enviroment

biotic

living components of an ecosystem

abiotic

non-living components of an ecosystem

biome

an ecosystem on a large scale e.g the tropical rainforest

food chain

shows direct links between producers and consumers in a form of a simple line

producer

organisms that make their own organic nutrients(food)usually using energy from sunlight.

consumer

get their energy from consuming other organisms

decomposer

feeding on dead and decaying organisms, and the undigested parts of plant and animal matter in feces. They break down dead organic matter. E.g fungi

nutrient cycling

the hot, damp conditions on the forest floornallow for the rapid decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots