Biomes & Ecosystems Vocabulary

Biomes

• Large geographic biotic units, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

• Small areas with diverse ecosystems and varying climates.

• Regions defined by their unique geological formations and mineral resources.

• Isolated areas with no significant plant or animal life.

Decomposer

• An organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.

• A type of plant that produces its own food through photosynthesis.

• An animal that primarily feeds on living organisms.

• A microorganism that causes diseases in plants.

Ecosystem

• All the living and nonliving things that interact in a particular area.

• A group of organisms of the same species living in a specific area.

• The physical environment where organisms live and interact.

• A community of different species living together in harmony.

Food Chain

• A circular sequence of organisms that recycle nutrients.

• A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

• A random collection of organisms in an ecosystem.

• A network of food webs that shows energy flow.

Producer

• An organism that can make its own food, typically through photosynthesis.

• An organism that consumes other organisms for energy.

• An organism that decomposes organic material.

• An organism that relies on external sources for food.

Niche

• The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

• A type of habitat where organisms live.

• The physical environment of an organism.

• The genetic makeup of a species.

Consumer

• An organism that produces energy through photosynthesis.

• An organism that eats producers or other consumers.

• An organism that decomposes organic material.

• An organism that lives in symbiosis with another species.

Biodiversity

• The total number of species in the world.

• The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

• The study of living organisms and their interactions.

• The process of evolution in different species.

Detritivore

• An organism that feeds on living plants and animals.

• An organism that feeds on dead plants and animals by eating and digesting them.

• An organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis.

• An organism that decomposes organic material without consuming it.

Population

• A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

• A collection of different species in a habitat.

• The total number of organisms in an ecosystem.

• A random sample of individuals from a larger group.