Ecosystem Vocabulary
An organism that makes its own food.
producer
The main source of energy for most ecosystems.
sun
The process plants use to make food using sunlight.
photosynthesis
This cycle moves water through Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans.
water cycle
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
the producer in this food chain:
grass
An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms.
consumer
The MOST energy in an energy pyramid is found here.
bottom
Plants use sunlight, water, and this gas during photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide
Water changing from liquid to gas is called this.
evaporation
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
The primary consumer in this food chain:
mouse
A model that shows one path of energy flow.
food chain
Producers are important because they do this.
make food for other organisms
Photosynthesis releases this gas into the atmosphere.
oxygen
Water vapor cooling into clouds is called this.
condensation
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
The top consumer in this food chain:
hawk
A connected group of food chains in an ecosystem.
food web
Energy decreases as it moves through a food chain because organisms use energy to do this.
live/grow/move
This process uses chemicals instead of sunlight to make food.
chemosynthesis
Plants remove this gas from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
This would most likely happen to the snake population if mice disappeared.
the snake population would decrease.
A model that shows the amount of energy available at each level.
energy pyramid
If producers disappeared, this would happen to the ecosystem.
consumers would not survive.
Organisms near deep ocean vents often use this process to survive.
chemosynthesis
Matter cycles through ecosystems because it is constantly this.
reused
Grass → Mouse → Snake → Hawk
Energy changes through the food chain this way.
decreases at each level.