Ecology Vocabulary

Front

What is the original source of almost all energy in most ecosystems?

Back

Sunlight

Front

What are the abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Water, sunlight, dirt, air

Front

What is the portion of the planet in which living things are found?

Back

Biosphere

Front

What do we call an organism that needs to eat other organisms to obtain energy?

Back

Consumer

Front

What term describes all the squirrels living in Hubbard Park?

Back

Population

Front

What is the term for organisms that produce their own food?

Back

Autotroph

Front

What is a community in ecological terms?

Back

A group of different populations living together in a defined area.

Front

What is a biome?

Back

A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

Front

What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?

Back

A habitat is the environment where an organism lives, while a niche is the role or function of that organism within its habitat.

Front

What are trophic levels?

Back

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, consumers, and decomposers.