Ecosystems and Resources

Abiotic factor

A nonliving part of the environment, like water, light, or temperature. Abiotic factor. Abiotic factors are the nonliving elements of an ecosystem that affect living organisms.

Biomass

Total mass of all living matter in a given area. Biomass. Biomass is the total weight of all living things, like plants and animals, in a specific area.

Biome

Large areas with similar climates, plants, and animals, like a tundra, taiga or desert. Biome. A biome is a region on Earth with distinct climate, plants, and animals.

Biotic factor

A living factor in the environment, like plants or animals. Biotic factor. In simple terms, a biotic factor is any living part of an ecosystem that can affect other organisms.

Carnivore

An animal that only eats other animals. Carnivore. A carnivore is a meat-eating animal that gets its energy and nutrients by consuming other animals.

Carrying capacity

The largest population that an environment can support. Carrying capacity. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment's resources can sustainably support without degrading.

Chaparral

A shrubland with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, it is also known as Mediterranean shrubland. Chaparral. Chaparral is an ecosystem characterized by dense, drought-resistant shrubs and is adapted to periodic wildfires.

Community

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

Consumer

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

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organisms and waste, like fungi or bacteria. Decomposers are nature's recyclers, turning dead material into nutrients for the soil.

Desert

A biome with very little rainfall or plant life. Desert. A desert is a dry area where there is little water, and consequently, very few plants and animals can survive.

Ecosystem

All the living and nonliving things interacting in an area. Ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community where plants, animals, and the environment work together to support life.

Energy pyramid

The diagram of energy loss through a food chain. Energy pyramid. An energy pyramid is a graphical representation showing the flow of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem, highlighting how energy decreases as it moves up the levels.

Estuary

An area where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. Estuary. An estuary is a coastal area where rivers meet the sea, creating a rich, diverse habitat.

Food chain

The food energy transfer between organisms in an ecosystem. Food chain. A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.

Food web

A model of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. Food web. A food web shows how different plants and animals in an ecosystem are connected through what they eat.

Habitat

The place where an organism lives habitat. A habitat is the natural home or environment of a plant or animal.

Herbivore

An animal that eats only plants. Herbivore. A herbivore is an animal that gets its energy and nutrients by consuming plants.

Omnivore

Can eat both plants and animals. Omnivore. An omnivore is an organism that consumes both plant and animal matter for nutrition.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food. Photosynthesis. In simple terms, photosynthesis is how plants create their own energy from sunlight.

Pioneer species

The first species to populate an area pioneer species. Pioneer species are the initial organisms that begin colonizing barren environments, paving the way for other species to establish.

Population

All the organisms of the same species living in the same area. Population. A population is a group of the same kind of living things living together in one place.

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals. A predator is an organism that hunts and consumes other animals for food.

Prey

An animal hunted and eaten by a predator. Prey. Prey is an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

Producer

Organism that can make its own food, like all plants. Producer. In science, a producer is a living thing that can create its own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

Scavenger

An organism that feeds on animals that are already dead. Scavenger. Scavengers are animals that eat dead organisms that they did not hunt or kill themselves.

Tundra

A treeless biome with long cold winters and short cool summers. Tundra. Tundra is a cold, dry region where the ground is often frozen and only hardy plants like mosses and lichens can grow.

Wetland

An area of land that is periodically underwater. Wetland. A wetland is a natural area where water covers the soil either permanently or seasonally, supporting unique plant and animal life.