8.L.3 Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, and climate).

Producers, such as plants, create their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the food web.

Herbivores eat plants, carnivores eat other animals, and omnivores eat both plants and animals.

Predation is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

A habitat is the natural environment where a species lives, finds food, and reproduces.

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, water, or space.

Coexistence refers to different species living together in the same habitat without directly competing for resources.

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, which supports plant growth.

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

A drought can lead to a decrease in plant life, resulting in a decline in herbivore populations due to lack of food.