Unit 1: Interactions in the Environment Flashcards
Biotic
Describes living factors in the environment
Abiotic
Describes the nonliving part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature.
Population
A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area.
Community
All the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.
Ecosystem
A community of organisms and their abiotic environment.
Herbivore
An organism that eats only plants
Carnivore
An organism that eats only animals
Omnivore
An organism that eats both plants and animals.
Detrivore
an animal that feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus.
Primary Consumer
The creature that eats producers. Usually is a herbivore
Secondary Consumer
Creatures that eat Primary Consumers. These are often carnivores or omnivores.
Tertiary Consumer
Creatures that eat Secondary Consumers. These are most often carnivores
Producer
Organisms that create their own food. All plants are producers.
Food Chain
The pathway that follows how energy is transferred through an ecosystem.
Food Web
A diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. It is multiple food chains put together.
Energy Pyramid
A triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem’s loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem’s food chain
Prey
An organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
Predator
An organism that eats all or part of another organism
Evaporation
The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas
Condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls to the Earth’s surface from the clouds
Water Cycle
The movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things
Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen between the environment and living things
Carbon Cycle
The exchange of carbon between the environment and living things
Respiration
When creatures breathe in oxygen and out carbon dioxide
