the movements of matter within and between ecosystems

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

a diagram that shows the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms

organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

the level of an organism in an ecosystem depending on its feeding position along a food chain

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

A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

All the different populations that live together in an area

the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.

largest number of individuals of a population that a given environment can support

environmental factors that restrict population growth

s-shaped curve that shows how limiting factors slow and stop exponential growth

J-shaped curve showing the rapid increase in a growing population

an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate

Rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water.

limiting factor that depends on population size

limiting factor that affects all populations in similar ways, regardless of population size

accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain

species that enter new ecosystems and multiply, harming native species and their habitats

An animal that hunts other animals for food

an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food

A close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.

an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.

An organism that gets its food from other living organisms.