Ecosystem NotesOrganism: a living thing Individual: one single organismPopulation: all the individuals of one kind (one species) in a specified area at one timeCommunity: all the interacting populations in a specified area Ecosystem: a system of interacting organisms and nonliving factors in a specified area Biotic: living organisms and products of organisms Abiotic: nonliving; ex. Sunlight, rocks, temperature, rainfall

Producer: an organism that is able to produce its own food through photosynthesis

Consumer: an organism that eats other organismsPrimary consumer: eats producersSecondary consumer: eats primary

consumersTertiary (3rd level) consumer: eats

secondary consumers

Decomposer: an organism that consumes parts of dead organisms

Predator: an animal that captures another for food

Prey: an animal eaten by a predator

Carnivore: a consumer that is a meat eater, only eats other animals

Herbivore: a consumer that is a plant eater

Omnivore: a consumer that eats both meat and plants

Food chain: a pathway of food and energy through an ecosystem

Food web: a complex network of feeding relationships made of many interconnected food chains

Detritus: decaying organic material