Ecology Basics

Organism that can make its own food by synthesizing organic nutrients from inorganic materials, using energy from sunlight or a chemical source to drive the process.

• autotroph
• abiotic factors
• trophic level
• tertiary consumer

The movement of a chemical through the biological and geological, or living and nonliving, parts of an ecosystem.

• biogeochemical cycle
• autotroph
• abiotic factors
• trophic level

A measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area.

• biomass
• biogeochemical cycle
• autotroph
• abiotic factors

The living parts of an ecosystem.

• biotic factors
• biomass
• biogeochemical cycle
• autotroph

Any reservoir, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby lowers the concentration of CO2 from the atmosphere.

• carbon sink
• biotic factors
• biomass
• biogeochemical cycle

Organism that eats only other animals.

• carnivore
• carbon sink
• biotic factors
• biomass

All of the living organisms in an area, the sum total of the populations.

• community
• carnivore
• carbon sink
• biotic factors

Organism that breaks down dead plants or animals into the substances that plants need for growth.

• decomposer
• community
• carnivore
• carbon sink

Organism that obtains food by feeding on the remains of plants and animals as well as fecal matter.

• detritivore
• decomposer
• community
• carnivore

A graphical representation designed to show the biomass or bioproductivity at each trophic level in a given ecosystem.

• ecological pyramid
• detritivore
• decomposer
• community