Download Ecosystems Vocabulary - Brandywine School District

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A grouping of the same species in a
certain area
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Using general characteristics of a small
group to identify characteristics of a
larger group
Abiotic: Nonliving things or factors that
can affect living organisms –
temperature, rain, oceans…
 Biotic: Living organisms or factors –
plants, animals
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A key used to identify a species by its
traits

A level at which a species feeds
Autotrophs: Species that make or
produce their own food – plants, algae
 Heterotrophs: Organisms that feed at
multiple trophic levels – animals, fungi

Oh my gosh
I’m a
heterotroph!
Producers: The organisms that provide
energy to an ecosystem
 Consumers: Organisms that consume
energy from other organisms
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
Herbivores: Organisms
that only eat plants

Carnivores: Organisms
that only eat meat

Omnivores: Organisms
that eat meats and
plants

Organisms responsible for returning
nutrients to the ecosystem – bacteria,
fungi, mold

Display of specific energy transfers
between organisms

Shows all the possible food chains in an
ecosystem

Relationship between two organisms
Commensalism: Form of symbiosis where
one organism benefits and the other is
neither benefited or harmed
 Mutualism: Both organisms benefit
 Parasitism: One organism benefits and
the other is harmed
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