biodiversity vocab Flashcards
Biodiversity
The range (variety/number) of species within an ecosystem.
Species
A group of organisms which can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Population
The total number of living organisms of one type (species) living in a habitat.
Habitat
The place where an organism lives e.g. in water, in soil, trees etc.
Community
All the organisms (e.g. plants, animals and micro-organisms) that live in a particular area.
Ecosystem
All the organisms (the community) living in a particular habitat and the non-living components with which the organisms interact.
Sometimes written as: Community + habitat
Niche
Role organism plays in the community
Producer
An organism that can produce its own food.
Predator
An animal that hunts and eats other animals.
Consumer
An animal which eats other organisms.
Herbivore
An animal which eats only plants.
Carnivore
An animal which eats only animals.
Prey
An animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals
Decomposer
An organism which feeds on dead organisms.
Omnivore
An animal which eats plants and animals.
