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Term | Definition |
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autotroph | an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. |
photosynthesis | captures light energy and uses it to power chemical reactions that covert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches |
primary producer | the first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms |
heterotroph | an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances. an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances |
consumer | organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients are called consumers |
carnivore | kill and eat other animals |
herbivore | obtain energy and nutrients by eating plant leaves, roots, seeds, or fruits |
scavenger | animals that consume the carcasses of other animals that have been killed by predators or have died of other causes |
omnivore | animals whose diets naturally include a variety of different foods that usually include both plants ad animals. |
decomposer | "feed" by chemically breaking down organic matter |
detritivore | feed on detritus particles, often chewing or grinding them into even smaller pieces |
chemosynthesis | the synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions involving inorganic chemicals, typically in the absence of sunlight |
food chain | a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten |
phytoplankton | primary producers are a mixture of floating algae |
food web | a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains. |
zooplankton | diverse group of small, swimming animals |
trophic level | each step in a food chain or food web |
ecological pyramid | show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web |
biomass | the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level |