The series of steps by which energy is obtained, used, and transformed by organisms

non-living factors of an ecosystem

living factors of an ecosystem

organisms that use energy the sun to obtain and store energy for themselves

organisms that cannot make their own food; depend on other organisms for food

animals that only consume other animals for energy

organisms that make up the secondary trophic level; only eat producers, often herbivores

organisms that make up the third trophic level; eat the primary consumers; may be carnivores or omnivores

organisms that make up the top trophic level; carnivores

animals that only consume plants

animals that consume both plants and animals

organisms that use other dead or decaying organisms as a source of energy; recycle matter for producers to use; critical in thecarbon cycle

organisms that obtain energy from dead organisms or from waste products of living organisms

Position occupied by an organism in an energy pyramid of an ecosystem

term for an organism that is able to produce its own energy

term for an organism that must consume other organisms to obtain energy

group of the same species of organisms that share the same environment

limits how many members of a population can be supported (nutrients, energy, disease, and living space)

Number of individuals a given environment can support

All populations that live and interact with each other in a particular place.

consists of living and non-living elements in a given area

the role an organism or species plays in a community

a specific, physical location that provides all that is needed for a species to survive

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

all the parts of the planet that are inhabited by living things; sum of all Earth's ecosystems

a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web