Ecosystems Vocabulary

Population A grouping of the same species in a

certain area

Sampling Using general characteristics of a small

group to identify characteristics of a larger group

Abiotic and Biotic Abiotic: Nonliving things or factors that

can affect living organisms – temperature, rain, oceans…

Biotic: Living organisms or factors – plants, animals

Dichotomous Key A key used to identify a species by its

traits

Trophic Level A level at which a species feeds

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Autotrophs: Species that make or produce their own food – plants, algae

Heterotrophs: Organisms that feed at multiple trophic levels – animals, fungi

Oh my gosh I’m a heterotroph!

Producers and Consumers Producers: The organisms that provide

energy to an ecosystem Consumers: Organisms that consume

energy from other organisms

Herbivore, Carnivore and Omnivore

Herbivores: Organisms that only eat plants

Carnivores: Organisms that only eat meat

Omnivores: Organisms that eat meats and plants

Decomposers Organisms responsible for returning

nutrients to the ecosystem – bacteria, fungi, mold

Food Chain Display of specific energy transfers

between organisms

Food Web Shows all the possible food chains in an

ecosystem

Symbiosis Relationship between two organisms

Commensalism, Mutualism, and Parasitism

Commensalism: Form of symbiosis where one organism benefits and the other is neither benefited or harmed

Mutualism: Both organisms benefit Parasitism: One organism benefits and

the other is harmed