Ecology Vocabulary and Concepts

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Producer

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An organism, usually a plant, that converts energy from the sun into food through photosynthesis.

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Consumer

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An organism that eats other organisms to obtain energy.

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Decomposer

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An organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.

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Food Web

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A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

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Food Chain

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A linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next member in the chain.

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Omnivore

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An animal that eats both plants and other animals.

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Herbivore

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An animal that eats only plants.

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Carnivore

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An animal that eats only other animals.

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Energy Source

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All energy comes from the sun, and is converted into energy by plants, which is then consumed by animals.