principle of ecology stating that two different species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for very
long
100
food chain
diagram that represents a single pathway through which energy and matter flow through an ecosystem
100
omnivore
consumer that eats both plants and animals
100
aquifer
an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well.
200
biotic factors
are the living aspects of the enviroment
200
decomposer
organism that breaks down the remains of dead organisms and other organic wast
200
food web
diagram that represents multiple intersecting pathways through which energy and matter flow through an
ecosystem
200
photoautotroph
producer that uses energy from sunlight to make food by photosynthesis
200
Condensation
the process in which water vapor changes to tiny droplets of liquid water.
300
biomass
total mass of organisms at a trophic level
300
detritivore
decomposer that consumes detritus
300
habitat
physical environment in which a species lives and to which it has become adapted
300
saprotroph
decomposer such as a fungus or protozoan that feeds on any remaining organic matter that is left after other
decomposers do their work
300
nitrogen fixation
the process of changing nitrogen gas to nitrates
400
carnivore
consumer that eats animals
400
detritus
substance composed of dead leaves, other plant remains, and animal feces that collects on the soil or at the
bottom of a body of water
400
herbivore
consumer that eats producers such as plants or algae
400
scavenger
decomposer that consumers the soft tissues of dead animals
400
Runoff
the movement of landwater to the oceans, chiefly in the form of rivers, lakes, and streams.
500
chemoautotroph
producer that uses energy from chemical compounds to make food by chemosynthesis
500
ecology
branch of biology that is the study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment
500
niche
role of a species in its ecosystem that includes all the ways the species interacts with the biotic and abiotic
factors of the ecosystem
500
trophic level
feeding position in a food chain or food web, such as producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer
500
Precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground.