Carbon Movement in Ecosystems

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ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting living organisms and their nonliving physical environment, all functioning together as a single unit.

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Example: This pond shows an ecosystem, where living things (fish, plants) and non-living things (water, soil, sunlight) all exist and interact together.

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system Noun

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[sis-tuhm]

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system

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A set of interacting or interdependent components, such as matter and energy, that form an integrated and complex whole.

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Example: The Earth and Moon are parts of a system, where gravity is the force that connects them and keeps the Moon in orbit.

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abiotic matter Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik mat-er]

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abiotic matter

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The nonliving chemical and physical parts of an ecosystem, such as air, water, soil, and sunlight.

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Example: This image shows several examples of abiotic factors, which are the non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, soil, and temperature.

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biotic matter Noun

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[bahy-ot-ik mat-er]

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biotic matter

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The living or once-living components of an ecosystem, including all plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

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Example: This image shows examples of biotic matter, which includes all living or once-living organisms in an ecosystem, from animals and plants to microscopic bacteria.

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producer Noun

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[pruh-doo-ser]

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producer

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An organism, typically a plant or alga, that produces its own food using light, water, and carbon dioxide.

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Example: A producer, like a plant, uses photosynthesis to make its own food (glucose) from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

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consumer Noun

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[kuhn-soo-mer]

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consumer

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An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or organic matter in an ecosystem.

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Example: A consumer is an organism that eats other living things for energy, such as the rabbit, fox, and eagle shown in the food chain.

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decomposer Noun

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[dee-kuhm-poh-zer]

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decomposer

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An organism, like a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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Example: Fungi, like the mushrooms shown growing on this log, are decomposers that break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the ecosystem.

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carbon Noun

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[kahr-buhn]

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carbon

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A chemical element that is the essential building block of all living organisms and cycles through Earth's systems.

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Example: This image shows the periodic table tile for carbon, displaying its atomic number (6), chemical symbol (C), name, and atomic mass (12.011).

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carbon dioxide Noun

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[kahr-buhn dahy-ok-sahyd]

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carbon dioxide

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A gas molecule made of one carbon and two oxygen atoms, used by producers and released by most organisms.

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Example: This diagram shows the carbon cycle, where carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by plants and released by animals, factories, and decaying organisms.

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photosynthesis Noun

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[foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis]

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photosynthesis

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The process where producers use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food and release oxygen.

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Example: This diagram shows how a plant uses energy from sunlight, water from the soil, and carbon dioxide from the air to create its food (glucose) and release oxygen.