Ecosystem Vocabulary
Living elements found in an ecosystem. Example: humans, plants, animals, bacteria, etc.
Biotic
A single biotic element.
Organism
A group of organisms within the same species living together in an ecosystem.
Population
Where various populations co-exist with one another in an ecosystem.
Community
Is made up of biotic and abiotic elements that depend on each other to survive.
Ecosystem
Non-living elements found in an ecosystem. Example: water, air, sun, soil, wind, etc.
Abiotic
A large community that has similar climate, soil, and organisms living together.
Biome
Describes the atmosphere’s conditions (e.g., temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity, etc.) over a short time period.
Weather
The average weather conditions of a specific area over a period of year.
Climate
Gases that surround the Earth.
Atmosphere
The place on Earth where land, water and air co-exist to sustain life.
Biosphere
Water part of the Earth that includes all oceans, lakes, seas, etc.
Hydrosphere
Organisms that consume biotic elements.
Consumer
Plants that provide nutrients and oxygen to an ecosystem from the sun’s energy.
Producer
Solid part of the Earth that consists of three layers: crust, mantle, and core.
Lithosphere
Consumers that eat only plants.
Herbivore
A hierarchy sequence of living things that demonstrates the transfer of food energy from one biotic element to another.
Food Chain
Organisms that decompose (break down) animal waste and dead biotic elements.
Decomposers
Consumers that primarily hunt for their food.
Predators
Consumers that eat other consumers.
Carnivores
When new species replace older species over a period of time in an ecosystem.
Succession
An interconnected network of food chains for organisms in an ecosystem.
Food Web
The transfer of energy within an ecosystem. This usually begins with the sun, which transfers its energy to producers and so on.
Energy flow
Living within our needs, such that we are able to sustain life for the future.
Sustainability
A mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.
Mutualism