A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their natural environment. Includes biotic, or “living” components. Includes abiotic, or “non-living” components.
Autotroph
An organism that can make or synthesize its own food from sunlight or chemical energy.
Heterotroph
An organism that cannot synthesize its own food energy, and must get it from organic sources in the ecosystem in which it lives.
Species
An organism that creates a viable, fertile offspring through the process of reproduction.
Population
A group of organisms of the same species living at the same place at the same time.
Community
A group of interdependent species interacting with each other in the same habitat.
Habitat
The geographic place and conditions in which a population and biological community exist.
Competition
Interaction between individuals or populations that usually has a negative effect for all organisms.
Niche
The specific area an organism inhabits. The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem. The interaction of all biotic and abiotic factors relating to it.
Producer
An autotrophic organism that uses the process of photosynthesis to create a chemical food source.
Consumer
A heterotrophic organism that obtains food and energy from other organisms.
Decomposer
An organism who performs the task of recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem through the process of decomposition, as it feeds on dead or decaying organisms.
Primary Consumer
A heterotroph that eats the primary producer.
Secondary Consumer
A heterotroph that eats a primary consumer.
Tertiary Consumer
A heterotroph that eats a secondary consumer.
Predator
An animal that hunts and kills an animal of prey.
Prey
An animal that a predator feeds upon.
Apex Predator
An animal is at the top of its food chain, and is not prey for another species.
Scavenger
An animal that will eat another organism, but only after it is dead, or has been killed by a different species.
Herbivore
An animal that eats primarily plants.
Carnivore
An animal that eats primarily animals.
Omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and animals.