shows the order in which organisms depend on each other for food

connection of all food chains in an ecosystem

 includes all the connections between organisms and their environments

 breaking down of food into smaller pieces

must eat food to get new matter and energy for their bodies

animals that eat only plants for matter & energy

animals that eat other animals for matter & energy

animals that eat both meat and plants for matter & energy

make their own food (plants)

process plants use to create their own food: requires sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide

specialized consumers that only eat dead and decaying organic matter

 matter that is or was alive