| A | B |
|---|
| Biosphere | the place where all life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere |
| Species | a group of the same organisms that can breed (have babies) |
| Population | a group of the same species in the same area |
| Community | a group of different populations that live together in the same area |
| Ecology | the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment |
| Ecosystem | all the organisms that live in a place AND their physical environment |
| Biome | a group of ecosystems that share similar climates (weather/temperature) |
| Biotic factor | any LIVING part of the environment with which an organism might interact (such as animals |
| Abiotic factor | any NONLIVING part of the environment (such as sunlight |
| Observation | something you can SEE; the first step in asking ecological research |
| Experimentation | using an experiment to test a hypothesis (guess) |
| Autotrophs | organisms that can get energy from sunlight or chemicals and convert it into forms that living cells can use |
| Primary producers | the first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by organisms |
| Photosynthesis | using light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates |
| Chemosynthesis | using chemical energy to produce carbohydrates |
| Heterotrophs | organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients (also called consumers) |
| Consumers | organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients (also called heterotrophs) |
| Carnivore | organisms that kill and eat other animals (ex: lion |
| Herbivores | organisms that eat plants (ex: cow |
| Scavenger | animals that eat the carcass (dead body) of other animals (ex: king vulture) |
| Omnivore | animals who eat both plants and animals (ex: humans, bears) |
| Decomposers | organisms that eat by chemically breaking down organic matter (ex: bacteria |
| Detritus | small pieces of dead and decaying plants/animals; decomposers create detritus |
| Detrivores | organisms that eat detritus (ex: earthworm) |
