Organisms that produce their own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy
Autotroph
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Species
Lush and biodiverse, high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and a canopy layer teeming with life.
Tropical Rainforest
What is the world's largest tropical rainforest?
Amazon Rainforest
What nocturnal mammal, known for its large ears, can survive without drinking water for its entire life, relying on moisture from its prey in the desert?
Fox
Organisms that cannot synthesize their own food and rely on other organisms — either plants or animals — for nutrition
Heterotroph
The natural environment in which an organism lives, which provides the necessary conditions for survival.
Habitat
Characterized by aridity and extreme temperature fluctuations, support hardy flora and fauna adapted to scarce water resources.
Desert
This desert, covering much of North Africa, is one of the hottest places on Earth.
Sahara
This reptile, known for its distinctive fringed scales and ability to change color, is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. What is it?
Lizard
Organisms, typically plants or algae, that produce biomass from inorganic compounds via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, serving as a basic food source in an ecosystem.
Producer
All the organisms of the same species living in a particular geographic area at the same time.
Population
Vast expanses of grasses interspersed with herbs and shrubs, grasslands are home to roaming herds of grazers and adapted predators, shaped by fire and grazing dynamics.
Grassland
What term describes a mutualistic relationship between fungi and plant roots, aiding in nutrient absorption?
Mycorrhiza
What bird, often associated with cartoons for its speed, is known for its ability to sprint at speeds of up to 20 MPH in the desert?
Roadrunner
Organisms that consume detritus (decomposing organic material), helping to break down dead matter and recycle nutrients in an ecosystem.
Detritivore
All the different populations that live together in a defined area.
Community
A harsh, treeless biome marked by permafrost and short growing seasons, harbor hardy plants and animals adapted to cold climates.
Tundra
Which grassland biome is known for its vast herds of grazing animals, including wildebeest and zebras, during the annual migration?
Serengeti Plains
This venomous snake, found in the deserts of North America, is known for its distinctive diamond-shaped pattern and rattling tail. What is its common name?
Rattlesnake
Organisms that decompose organic matter externally, absorbing the nutrients through their cells. They play a critical role in nutrient cycling by decomposing dead organisms.
Saprotroph
A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (such as air, water, and mineral soil), interacting as a system.
Ecosystem
Underwater ecosystems featuring intricate structures built by polyps, support diverse marine life and provide essential habitat for countless species.
Coral reef
What term describes the symbiotic relationship between certain types of algae or cyanobacteria and fungi, forming colorful, crusty structures often found in dry, rocky environments?
Lichen
What small rodent, often called a "pocket mouse" due to its fur-lined cheek pouches used for carrying seeds, is well adapted to desert life and can be found in arid regions of North America?
Kangaroo Rat