Ecology Vocab Flashcard 1

Front

Organism that gets energy from abiotic sources (e.g., sunlight) and makes its own food.

Back

autotroph

Front

An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by consuming others is a...

Back

heterotroph

Front

An organism that makes its own food and starts the food chain.

Back

producer

Front

An organism that eats others for energy.

Back

consumer

Front

In a food chain, this consumer eats the producer.

Back

primary consumer

Front

In a food chain, this consumer eats primary consumers and is in the third trophic level.

Back

secondary consumer

Front

A detritivore that breaks down organic matter and returns nutrients to the ecosystem.

Back

decomposer

Front

Variety of organisms in an ecosystem

Back

biodiversity

Front

Model linking organisms by feeding relationships.

Back

food chain

Front

Model showing complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem

Back

food web