Ecosystems and Interactions of Living Things

Carnivore

An animal that only eats other animals. Carnivore. A carnivore is an animal that predominantly consumes the flesh of other animals for its diet.

Community

Populations that live in the same habitat. Community. In science, a community is a group of different species living together and interacting in the same area.

Consumer

Unlike a plant, cannot make its own food, instead it eats other living things. Consumer. In science, a consumer is an organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organisms and waste, like fungi or bacteria. Decomposers are organisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead material.

Ecosystem

All the living and non-living interacting in an area. Ecosystem. Ecosystem is like a community where plants, animals and non-living things like water and rocks all work together.

Endangered

Close to becoming extinct. Endangered. An endangered species is one that is at serious risk of disappearing forever.

Energy pyramid

The diagram of energy loss through a food chain. Energy pyramid. An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows how energy decreases as it flows through different levels of a food chain.

Environment

All the living and non-living things in an area. Environment. The environment is everything around us, including both living things like plants and animals and non-living things like air and water.

Food chain

The food energy transfer between organisms in an ecosystem. Food chain. A food chain is a sequence that shows how each living thing gets its energy by eating another organism in an ecosystem.

Food web

A model of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. Food web. A food web is a network of interconnected food chains showing how different organisms feed on each other in an ecosystem.

Habitat

The place where an organism lives. Habitat. A habitat is the natural home where plants and animals live and find everything they need to survive.

Herbivore

An animal that eats only plants. Herbivore. Herbivores are animals that get their energy and nutrients by consuming plants.

Microorganism

A very small organism that can only be seen with a microscope, like bacteria. Microorganism. Microorganisms are tiny living things, such as bacteria and viruses, that play various roles in the ecosystem, including helping to decompose organic material.

Niche

The role an animal or plant plays in its habitat. Niche. A niche is like a species' job or role in its environment, including how it gets food and interacts with other organisms.

Omnivore

Can eat both plants and animals. Omnivore. An omnivore is an animal that consumes both plants and animal matter as part of its diet.

Oxygen

The gas found in air and water that most plants and animals need to live. Oxygen. Oxygen is a colorless gas that is essential for breathing and supports life on Earth.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food. Photosynthesis. It is how plants make their own food using sunlight.

Pollution

Adding harmful substances to the land, water or air. Pollution. It is when unwanted chemicals or trash harm our environment.

Population

All the organisms of the same species living in the same area. Population. In science, a population is a group of the same species living together in one place.

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals. Predator. In Science, a predator is an animal that captures and feeds on other animals.

Prey

An animal hunted and eaten by a predator. Prey. In science, prey is an organism that is targeted and consumed by another organism, known as the predator, for food.

Producer

An organism that can make its own food, like all plants. Producer. A producer is a living thing that makes its own food through processes like photosynthesis.

Seed dispersal

The scattering of plant seeds. Seed dispersal. Seed dispersal is the process by which seeds are spread from the parent plant to new locations to grow.