Ecology and Natural Disasters

Abiotic Factor

• a nonliving part of an ecosystem

• a living organism in an ecosystem

• a type of food chain

• a natural disaster affecting ecosystems

Wild fires

• a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush

• a small, controlled fire used for land management

• a fire that occurs in urban areas, often due to negligence

• a fire that is intentionally set for agricultural purposes

Decomposer

• an organism that breaks down waste and dead organisms

• a type of plant that produces energy through photosynthesis

• a consumer that eats other living organisms

• a microorganism that causes diseases

Tornado

• a spinning column of air with wind speeds up to 300 miles per hour

• a type of storm that produces heavy rain and lightning

• a weather phenomenon characterized by extreme heat

• a rotating mass of clouds that causes flooding

Consumer

• an organism that gains energy by feeding on other organisms

• a type of plant that produces its own food

• a decomposer that breaks down dead matter

• an organism that only eats plants

Earthquake

• a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action

• a gentle tremor that occurs due to weather changes

• a loud noise caused by thunder or lightning

• a phenomenon where the ground remains completely still

Omnivore

• a consumer that feeds on plants and animals

• a consumer that only eats plants

• a consumer that only eats animals

• a consumer that feeds on decomposed matter

Symbiosis

• a close and often long-term interaction between two different biological species

• a type of competition between two species for resources

• a process of evolution where species become more similar over time

• a method of reproduction in plants involving pollination

Biotic Factor

• a living or once living part of an ecosystem

• a non-living part of an ecosystem

• a type of soil composition

• a climate condition affecting ecosystems

Prey

• an organism that is hunted and eaten by another organism

• a type of predator that hunts for food

• a plant that consumes insects for nutrients

• an animal that scavenges dead organisms