ecosystems Flashcards
bioaccumulation definition
the build up of toxic chemicals inside organisms in a food chain
carnivore definition
a consumer that only eats other animals
community definition
the collection of different types of organisms present in an ecosystem
competition definition
competing with another organism for resources
consumer definition
an animal in a food chain that eats other animals and/or plants
decomposer definition
an organism that breaks down dead plants and animal material so nutrients can be recycled back to soil/water
ecosystem definition
plants and animals in a given area and their non-living environment
environment definition
the surrounding air, water, and soil where an organism lives
food chain definition
part of a food web starting with a producer and ending with a top predator (consumer). it shows the transfer of energy between organisms
food web definition
a diagram that shows how food chains in an ecosystem are linked
habitat definition
an area in which an organism lives
herbivore definition
a consumer (animal) that eats only plants
interdependence definition
the way in which living organisms depend on each other to survive, grow, and reproduce
niche definition
a particular place or role that an organism has in an ecosystem
omnivore definition
a consumer (animal) that eats both plants and animals
