Ecology Terms

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Biotic

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Refers to living components in an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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Abiotic

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Refers to non-living components in an ecosystem, such as sunlight, temperature, and water.

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Trophic Level

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The position an organism occupies in a food chain, which is determined by its feeding relationships.

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Rule of 10

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A principle stating that only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain.

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Producer

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Organisms, like plants and algae, that produce their own food through photosynthesis and serve as a food source for other organisms.

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Consumer

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Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms or organic matter.

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Food web

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A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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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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Decomposer

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Organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead or decaying organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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Species diversity

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The variety and abundance of different types of organisms present in an ecosystem.