| A | B |
|---|
| autotroph | organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer |
| producer | organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a autotroph |
| photosynthesis | the process of taking light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and starches |
| chemosynthesis | when organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates |
| heterotroph | organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer |
| consumer | organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph |
| herbivore | organism that obtains energy by eating only plants |
| carnivore | organism that obtains energy by eating animals |
| omnivore | organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals |
| detritivore | organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter |
| decomposer | organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter |
| food chain | series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten |
| food web | network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem |
| trophic level | step in a food chain or food web |
| ecological pyramid | diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web |
| biomass | total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level |
