Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

All of the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer

Organism that obtains food by consuming (eating) other living things; also called a consumer

Process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

Organism that obtains energy by eating animals

Organism that obtains food by eating only plants

Organisms that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals

Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions

Network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem

Area where an organism lives, including the biotic and abiotic factors that affect it

Each step in a food chain or food web

Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

Animal that consumes the carcasses of other animals

Organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply, also called a heterotroph

First producer of an energy rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

Physical, non-living, factor that shapes an ecosystem

Part of the earth which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere

Assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring