Ecosystems Flashcards
Ecology
study of how organisms interact with their environment and each other
Environment
anything and everything in a organisms surroundings
ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
Abiotic
part of the environment that was never living
biotic
part of the environment that was alive or is alive
Producer
(AKA autotroph, involved with photosynthesis directly)
organsims capable of making their own food from water, light, and air
Herbivore
an organism that eats grass as 90% of its diet
Carnivore
organism that eats meat as 90% of its diet
Omnivore
organism that eats a mixture of meat and fresh plants
Detritus
waste from plants and animals, including dead remains
Scavenger
organisms that feed on bodies of larger dead animals
Decomposer
organisms that break down organic matter at cellular level
Trophic Level
Place in a food chain an organism feeds
Detritivores
organisms that feed own bodies of smaller animals
Community
All organisms that interact within an ecosystem