Environmental glossary

Abiotic

Non-living things in the environment: example - soil, air, water, temperature

(NOT dead things - they would be biotic since there were once alive!)

Biosphere

The part of earth that supports living organisms.

Biotic

Living or once living things in the environment....

Having to do with living things

Carnivore

Consumer that eats other animals

Carrying Capacity

The largest population that a given environment can support over a long period of time

Community

A group of the different species (2 populations) living together. Example: coral reef, forest floor

Consumer

Eats other organisms for food (animals)

Decomposer

Breaks down remains of dead organisms

Ecology

The study of the environment and the interactions of organisms in the environment

Ecosystem

Living and non-living things in an area Examples: forest with river and rocks, coral reef with sand and water

Energy Pyramid

A graphic that shows the loss of energy at every level in an environment

Food Chain

a. shows what eats what in an environment

b. always starts with producers

c. Arrows go from what is being eaten to who’s eating it!

Food Web

A web the show many food chains in an environment

Habitat

Environment where something lives

Herbivore

Consumer that eats plants only

Limiting Factor

Anything that keeps a population from growing too large. Ex: food, living space, water

Niche

An organism’s way of life in an ecosystem, including habitat, food, predators, and competition

Omnivore

Consumer that eats plants and animals

Population

A group of the same species living together. Example: pride of lions, Christmas tree farm

Producer

Makes its own food through sunlight (plants)

Scavenger

Consumers that eat the bodies of already-been-killed animals