Biosphere- All life on Earth and all parts of Earth in which life exists

Hydrosphere- All the water on the Earth’s surface as water vapor and rain in the atmosphere and underground (Any type of water on earth.)

Atmosphere- a layer of all the gasses that surround Earth

Geosphere- solid earth which consists of rocks, continents, and the ocean floor

Ecology- The study of interactions of living organisms and the non-living environment

Species- A group of organisms that breed and produce offspring

Population- A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Community-A group of different populations that live together in a defined area

Ecosystem- All the organisms that live in a place and their physical environment. Including non-living things

Abiotic factors-any nonliving part of the environment

Biotic factors- any living part of the environment

Autotrophs (Producers)- an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals

Heterotrophs (Consumers)- an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients

Herbivores- Organisms that only eat plants

Carnivores- Organisms that eat only  meat

Omnivores- Organisms that eat both plants and meat

Detritivores- Eat dead organisms (like vultures, worms, and crabs)

Decomposers-  organism that breaks down dead organic material

Food Chains- the order of events in an ecosystem, where one living organism eats another organism

Food Webs- A food web is a network of many food chains

Trophic levels- Trophic levels are the position an organism holds in a food chain