Ecosystems and Communities

Carnivore

An animal that only eats other animals. Carnivore. A carnivore is an animal that primarily feeds on the flesh of other animals.

Commensalism

A relationship where one species benefits but the other is neither helped nor harmed. Commensalism. In commensalism, one organism benefits while the other is not affected in any way.

Community

Populations that live in the same habitat. Community. In science, a community refers to all the different species that live and interact in a specific area.

Competition

The struggle between two or more living things for the same limited resource. Competition. In Science, competition is when animals or plants try to get the same food, space, or other resources they all need to survive.

Consumer

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

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organisms and waste, like fungi or bacteria. Decomposers help recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Energy pyramid

The diagram of energy loss through a food chain. Energy pyramid. An energy pyramid is a graphical representation showing the energy flow and loss at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Food chain

The food energy transfer between organisms in an ecosystem. Food chain. A food chain is a sequence showing how energy is passed from one living thing to another.

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 are linked through eating relationships in an ecosystem.

Herbivore

An animal that eats only plants. Herbivore. Herbivores are animals that feed exclusively on plants and vegetation for their energy and nutrition.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both benefit. Mutualism. Mutualism is when two different species help each other out and both gain benefits from their interaction.

Niche

The role an animal or plant plays in its habitat. Niche. A niche is like an organism's job or role in an ecosystem, showing how it fits in and interacts with everything around it.

Omnivore

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

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Parasitism. In parasitism, the parasite lives on or in a host organism, gaining nutrients at the host's expense.

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 that live in a certain place and interact with each other.

Population density

The number of individuals per unit of area. Population density. Population density measures how crowded or spread out individuals are in a specific area.

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals. predator. In Science, a predator is an animal that preys on and consumes other animals for food.

Prey

An animal hunted and eaten by a predator. Prey. In science, prey is an organism that is captured and eaten by another organism, called a predator.

Producer

Organism that can make its own food, like all plants. Producer. In science, a producer is a living thing, like a plant, that makes its own food using sunlight.

Succession

The gradual changes to communities in an ecosystem. Succession. Succession is the process by which ecosystems develop and change over time, often starting from bare land to a mature, stable community.

Symbiosis

The close relationship between organisms of different species. Symbiosis. Symbiosis is when two different species live together and help each other survive.