Energy Pyramid

Front

Ecosystem Noun

---

[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

Back

Ecosystem

---

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including both living and nonliving components.

---

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.

Front

Photosynthesis Noun

---

[foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis]

Back

Photosynthesis

---

The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy through a series of reactions.

---

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

Front

Producer Noun

---

[pruh-doo-ser]

Back

Producer

---

An organism that creates its own food, usually through photosynthesis, forming the base of a food chain.

---

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.

Front

Autotroph Noun

---

[aw-toh-trohf]

Back

Autotroph

---

An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy; also known as a producer.

---

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.

Front

Consumer Noun

---

[kuhn-soo-mer]

Back

Consumer

---

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or organic matter in a food chain.

---

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

Front

Heterotroph Noun

---

[het-er-uh-trohf]

Back

Heterotroph

---

An organism that cannot produce its own food and must ingest other organisms or organic substances; also known as a consumer.

---

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

Front

Herbivore Noun

---

[hur-buh-vohr]

Back

Herbivore

---

An animal that feeds on plants to obtain its energy; also known as a primary consumer in an ecosystem.

---

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

Front

Carnivore Noun

---

[kahr-nuh-vohr]

Back

Carnivore

---

An animal that feeds on the flesh of other animals to obtain its energy and nutritional requirements.

---

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

Front

Omnivore Noun

---

[om-nuh-vohr]

Back

Omnivore

---

An animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter for its energy.

---

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.

Front

Decomposer Noun

---

[dee-kuhm-poh-zer]

Back

Decomposer

---

An organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning essential nutrients to the soil for producers to use.

---

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