Habitats and ecosystems keywords Flashcards
habitat
the place where an organism lives
physical factor
non-living part of the environment
resource
anything that is needed or used by an organism
ecosystem
all the organisms and physical factors in an area
environment
the other organisms and physical factors around an organism
decomposer
microorganisms that cause decay
carnivore
animal that eats other animals
consumer
an animal that eats other living things
food chain
diagram showing feeding relationships in a habitat -each species is a food source for the species at the next level up.
herbivore
animal that only eats plants
omnivore
animal that eats both plants and animals
primary consumer
animal that eats plants, these are the second trophic level of a food chain
producer
an organism that makes its own food such as a plant
secondary consumer
animal that eats a primary consumer. these are the third trophic level in a food chain
trophic level
level in an ecosystem. All producers are in the first trophic level. Energy passes up the trophic levels.
bioacculmulation
build up of a substance in an organism because the substance cannot be broken down
competition
a struggle between different organisms for the same resource.
food web
a diagram showing how food chains can interconnect in a habitat
extinction
when a species dies out completely
invasive species
a non native species that damages an ecosystem
native species
a species that naturally lives in an area
non native species
a species that does not naturally live in an area
