Ecosystems: Important Terms and Definitions - EKADEMY | Free Online Courses, Live Classes, Lessons & Quizzes

The level of information provided here is for Grade 7 students.

Terms	Definition
Environment	The surroundings of an organism that affect its life and development are called the environment. It consists of BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors.
Ecosystem	All the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which they interact.
Biotic	The living components of an ecosystem. Examples: Animals, plants, fungi, microbes, etc.
Abiotic	The non-living components of an ecosystem. Examples: Wind, Sun, Water, etc.
Organism or Individual	A single living thing.
Population	A group of organisms of the same species in an ecosystem.
Community	A group of different populations interacting in an ecosystem.
Ecosystem	All the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which they interact.
Biome	A region of land with characteristic climate, soil and organisms.
Weather	Describes the conditions of the atmosphere in a certain area for a short period of time. Weather changes constantly.
Climate	Describes the average weather that an area has over a long period of time. Climate does not generally change (can change over the years).
Biosphere	The areas on and around Earth that can sustain life.
Atmosphere	The air, in the biosphere, that surrounds Earth.
Lithosphere	The solid mineral material, in the biosphere, on Earth.
Hydrosphere	The water, in the biosphere, on Earth.
Niche	The role of an organism in an ecosystem.
Producer	Plants that use energy from the sun to make nutrients they need to survive.
Consumer	Organisms that eat food are made by producers. (Primary Consumer eats plants, Secondary Consumer eats meat)
Herbivore	An animal that eats only plant material.
Carnivore	An animal that eats only other animals.
Omnivore	An animal that eats other animals and plant material.
Predator	An organism that catches and eats other organisms of a different species.
Prey	An organism that is caught and eaten by another organism of a different species.
Scavenger	An organism that eats dead or decaying plant or animal matter.
Decomposer	Organisms that break down the cells of dead or waste materials and absorb their nutrients.
Food Chain	A sequence of feeding relationships among living organisms, as they pass on food energy.
Energy Flow	The movement of energy, which originally comes from the sun, from one organism to another.
Food Web	The network of feeding relationships among organisms.
Symbiosis	An interaction between two organisms of different species living in close proximity that lasts over time.
Parasitism	A symbiotic relationship in which one of the partners is harmed and the other benefits.
Mutualism	A symbiotic relationship in which both partners benefit.
Commensalism	A symbiotic relationship in which one partner benefits and the other is indifferent.
Energy Pyramid	A pyramid showing the number of organisms at each level of a food chain.
Succession	The process by which new species gradually replace old species in an ecosystem.
Secondary Succession	When succession occurs with the already existing soil.
Sustainability	The ability to sustain something – to keep it healthy and continue in the same manner.