Types of Ecosystems
A vast body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth
Ocean
Aquatic
A network of interconnected food chains
Food web
A consumer that only eats plants
Herbivore
Animals breathe ________ in the air produced by plants
Oxygen
A dry area with very little rainfall, extreme temperatures, and limited vegetation
Desert
A land-based ecosystem
Terrestrial
A living thing that makes its own food
Producer
A consumer that eats other animals for food
Carnivore
The process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food
Photosynthesis
A large area filled with trees, plants, and wildlife
Forest
The nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Abiotic (factors)
A living thing that eats other plants or animals for food.
Consumer
A consumer that feeds on both plants and animals
Omnivore
When harmful substances or waste make air, water, or land dirty and unsafe.
Pollution
An area dominated by grasses, with few trees and moderate rainfall.
Grassland
The living parts of an ecosystem
Biotic (factors)
A living thing that breaks down dead plants and animals.
Decomposer
An animal that hunts other animals as a means of obtaining food
Predator
Plants provide _______ for animals such as protection from predators, weather, or other external elements.
Shelter
Where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean
Estuary
An area with a similar climate and ecosystem
Biome
The source of all energy transferred through food chains
The sun
An animal that is hunted and consumed by other animals
Prey
A natural environment in which organisms live, grow, and thrive
Habitat