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Glossary Of Terms

 

Air pollution- Air pollution sometimes results in smog.

Balance of nature- Populations in an ecosystem are Balanced. Equilibrium is established.

Biome-A major community that covers a large area of the earth. A biome contains several ecosystems within its territory.

 Biosphere or ecosphere- the total environment of the earth. It is the largest of the ecosystems. It includes all other ecosystems on earth.

Carnivore- An animal that eats meats.

Community-all the living things that live together in a particular place

Competition-the striving or vying between animals for the things needed for survival

Consumers-Consumers are animals. Con summer eat producers.  Consumers depend on producers or other organisms for their food.

Cooperation-animals working together toward a common end or purpose.

Decomposers- Many fungi, bacteria , and some animals are decomposers. A decomposer rids the ecosystem of dead producers.

Ecology-the study of relationships between animals and plants, and the relationships between organisms and their physical environment

Ecosystem- A complete ecological community together with its physical   environment. An  ecosystem is considered a unit that can be studied. An ecosystem consists of producers, consumers ,and decomposers.

Endangered species- An animals or plant whose numbers are so small it could easily become extinct.

Environment-The surroundings of organisms. The conditions that affect and influence the growth and development of organisms.

First order consumer- Eats first animals in food chain.

Food chain- consists of a series of animals that eat plants and other animals

Food web- a food web consists of many food chains within an ecosystem.

Fungi- Yeasts, molds and mushrooms that live on dead plants and animals or living organisms.

Habitat-the place where a particular species of a plant or an animal usually lives 

Herbivore- A animal that eats plants

Niche-the area within a habitat occupied by an organism

Omnivore- An animal that eats plants and animals.

Organisms-any living plant or animal 

Pollution- something that appears in an environment that is unwanted and does not belong.

Population-the total number of any one species of a plant or an animal living in a community

Predator- Animals that eat other animals

Prey- Animals that get eaten by predators

Producers-Plants that release oxygen and photosynthesis Animals eat the food that producers produce. Producers are the first living things or link in a food chain.

Second order consumer- eats second animal in food chain.

Third order consumer- Eats third animal in food chain.