Ecology and Environmental Science Terms

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Compost

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A mixture of decaying, organic matter rich in nutrients, often used to enrich soil in gardens.

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Decomposer

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Organisms (fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates) which break down organic matter into its basic elements including nutrients needed for plant growth.

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Decomposition

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The process of breaking down or rotting of organic matter into its basic elements.

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Ecosystem

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A community of living and non-living parts that depend on each other.

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Evidence

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Something that supports a scientific claim.

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Habitat

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A place that is natural for an organism to live.

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Impact

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To have an effect on something.

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Aquatic Macroinvertebrate

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An animal that lives in the water, without a backbone that is large enough to be seen without magnification.

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Native Species

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A species that evolved to live and thrive in a particular environment.

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Invasive Species

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A species that evolved in a different region and is introduced to a new environment in which it causes harm.