Wjec Biology, By5 5.7 Ecosystems

Front 1

Ecosystem

Back 1

A balanced biological system comprising the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements, eg. a pond

Front 2

Habitat

Back 2

The place within an ecosystem in which an organism lives

Front 3

Community

Back 3

All the living organisms of all species living in a particular area

Front 4

Population

Back 4

The number of individuals of one species living in a particular area

Front 5

Biotic

Back 5

The living organisms in an ecosystem

Front 6

Abiotic

Back 6

The non-living components of an ecosystem, eg. water, minerals, pH, sunlight

Front 7

Niche

Back 7

The role an organism has within an ecosystem particularly its feeding role

Front 8

Autotroph

Back 8

An organism that converts inorganic molecules to organic ones using an energy source, often light energy

Front 9

Heterotroph

Back 9

An organism that obtains organic molecules by eating other organisms

Front 10

Producers

Back 10

Autotrophs supplying the organic molecules fueling the ecosystem, mainly green plants

Front 11

Consumers

Back 11

Heterotrophs that eat other organisms to obtain their organic molecules

Front 12

Primary consumers

Back 12

Herbivores that consume producers to obtain their organic molecules

Front 13

Secondary consumers

Back 13

Carnivores that consume herbivores to obtain their organic molecules

Front 14

Carnivores

Back 14

Heterotrophs that eat other animals

Front 15

Omnivores

Back 15

Heterotrophs that eat plants and animals

Front 16

Detritivore

Back 16

Heterotrophs that obtain organic molecules from dead material

Front 17

Saprophyte

Back 17

Heterotrophs from the kingdoms fungi and prokaryotae that secrete enzymes onto dead organisms and absorb the products

Front 18

Parasite

Back 18

Heterotrophs that live in or on a living organism called a host. They obtain nutrients from the host and cause the host harm

Front 19

Holozoic

Back 19

Animals that have a specialised gut for digestion.