Chapter 3 Vocab

An organism that produces complex organic compounds (like sugar) using carbon from simple substances such as carbon dioxide usually using energy from the sun.

• decomposer

• autotroph

• heterotroph

• consumer

A type of organism that converts an abiotic source of energy (like sunlight) into energy stored in organic compounds, which can be used by other organisms

• heterotroph

• chemosynthesis

• primary producer

• photosynthesis

A process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy

• photosynthesis
• detritus
• autotroph
• consumer

A process that uses chemical energy to power the production of carbohydrates (like sugar)

• consumer

• primary producers

• autotroph

• chemosynthesis

An organism that cannot produce its own food, instead taking nutrition from other sources

• chemosynthesis

• heterotroph

• producer

• detritus

A category that refers predominantly to animals that can't produce their own food, and must consume other living things.

• detritus
• consumer
• autotroph
• photosynthesis

Dead organic material

• photosynthesis
• autotroph
• primary producers
• detritus

A network of feeding interactions that move energy and matter through an ecosystem

• food chain
• trophic level
• dentrification
• food web

Elements that are recycled in ecosystems include the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere

• biogeochemical cycle
• trophic level
• biomass
• nutrient

A model of the relative amount of energy or matter contained in each trophic level

• nitrogen fixation
• ecological pyramids
• food web
• carbon reservoir