Ecosystems Investigation 1 Flashcards
species
A group of living things that share genetic and physical characteristics and can ate with one another to produce young.
extinct species
A species that has dies out and has no living members.
endangered species
A species that is in danger of becoming extinct soon.
community
All the living things that live together and interact with each other in a certain area.
habitat
A physical place where a living thing can find food, shelter, and other things it needs to survive.
ecosystem
A community of living things interacting with each other and with their physical environment in a certain area.
niche
A special role that a species plays in an ecosystem.
keystone species
A species that performs a role that helps many other living things in its ecosystem.
food chain
The order in which animals eat plants and other animals. Each living thing is like a link in the chain.
producer
A living thing that can use sunlight and nutrients from soil and water to produce its own food. Plants are producers.
primary consumer
An animal that feeds on producers (usually plants) in a food chain.
secondary consumer
An animal that feeds primarily o primary consumers in a food chain.
decomposers
Worms, bacteria, and other creatures that break down the bodies of dead plants and animals to create nutrients in soil and water.
food web
A network of food chains that overlap and connect.
population
The number of members of a species that live in a certain area at the same time.
predator
An animal that hunts and eats other animals for food.
prey
An animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals for food.
