Energy Pyramid

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A community of living organisms interacting with the nonliving parts of their environment as a complex, self-sustaining system.

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Example: This diagram shows the levels of ecological organization, from an individual organism to a population, a community, and finally an entire ecosystem including non-living elements.

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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 primary producers capture the Sun's energy and convert it to chemical energy in the form of simple sugars.

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Example: This diagram shows how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food (glucose) and release oxygen.

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Producer Noun

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[pruh-doo-ser]

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Producer

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An organism that produces its own food from an external energy source, such as the sun, forming the base of an energy pyramid.

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Example: This diagram shows a producer (a plant) using energy from the sun to make its own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of an energy pyramid.

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Autotroph Noun

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[aw-toh-trohf]

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Autotroph

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An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, or other chemicals; also known as a producer.

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Example: This image shows a plant, an autotroph, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create its own food (glucose), which is the base of the energy pyramid.

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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 by feeding on other organisms within an ecosystem, as it is unable to produce its own food.

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Example: A consumer is an organism that gets energy by eating other organisms, like the rabbit, fox, and eagle shown in this food chain.

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Heterotroph Noun

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[het-er-uh-trohf]

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Heterotroph

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An organism that cannot manufacture its own food and instead obtains energy by consuming organic substances; also known as a consumer.

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Example: This food chain shows heterotrophs like the grasshopper, frog, snake, and hawk, which get energy by eating other organisms to survive.

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Herbivore Noun

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[hur-buh-vor]

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Herbivore

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A type of consumer that obtains its energy and nutrients by feeding exclusively on plants; also known as a primary consumer.

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Example: This image shows examples of herbivores, which are animals that eat plants for energy, such as zebras, cows, and sheep.

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Carnivore Noun

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[kahr-nuh-vor]

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Carnivore

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A type of consumer that obtains its energy and nutrients by feeding exclusively on the flesh of other animals.

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Example: This image shows a lion, an animal that eats meat, which is the definition of a carnivore.

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Omnivore Noun

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[om-nuh-vor]

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Omnivore

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A type of consumer that obtains its energy and nutrients by feeding on a diet of both plants and animals.

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Example: This Venn diagram shows that omnivores are animals that eat both plants, like herbivores, and meat, like carnivores, by showing the overlap between the two diets.

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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 that breaks down dead organic material, returning essential nutrients back into the environment for producers to use.

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Example: This diagram shows a decomposer, like a mushroom, breaking down dead organisms from all levels of the food chain to recycle nutrients.