nonliving aspect of the environment such as sunlight and soil
100
carbon cycle
interconnected pathways through which carbon is recycled through the biotic and abiotic components of the
biosphere
100
photoautotroph
producer that uses energy from sunlight to make food by photosynthesis
100
chemoautotroph
producer that uses energy from chemical compounds to make food by chemosynthesis
100
aquifer
underground layer of rock that stores water
200
biotic factor
living aspects of the environment including organisms of the same and different species
200
biomass
total mass of organisms at a trophic level
200
omnivore
consumer that eats both plants and animals
200
decomposer
organism that breaks down the remains of dead organisms and other organic wastes
200
condensation
process in which water vapor changes to tiny droplets of liquid water
300
evaporation
process in which liquid water changes to water vapor
300
food web
diagram that represents multiple intersecting pathways through which energy and matter flow through an
ecosystem
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
carnivore
consumer that eats animals
300
trophic level
feeding position in a food chain or food web, such as producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer
400
habitat
physical environment in which a species lives and to which it has become adapted
400
competitive exclusion principle
principle of ecology stating that two different species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for very
long
400
food chain
diagram that represents a single pathway through which energy and matter flow through an ecosystem
400
ecology
branch of biology that is the study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment
400
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
herbivore
consumer that eats producers such as plants or algae
500
scavenger
decomposer that consumers the soft tissues of dead animals
500
biogeochemical cycle
interconnected pathways through which water or a chemical element such as carbon is continuously recycled
through the biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere
500
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