Interactions
in the
Environment

An ecosystem includes all of the living thing in a given area

Tropical Rainforest

warm/wet/lots of vegetation

Temperate

all seasons/lots of vegetation

Grassland

dry/lots of grass

Desert

hot/dry/little vegetation

Tundra

cold/little vegetation

River

water

Coral Reef

warm ocean/lots of vegetation

Mountain

high up/lots of vegetation

Sun

Gives energy to plants to grow

Producer

plants: give energy to consumers to grow

Consumers

Herbivore

Eat plants for energy

Carnivores

eat other animals for energy

Omnivores

eat both plants and animals for energy

Decomposers

get energy by breaking down dead plant and animal matter

Ecological Succession

the process of change of species in an ecosystem

Primary Succession

happens in a lifeless area or areas where the soil is not capable of sustaining life

Secondary Succession

happens in an area where a community that previously existed has been removed

living thing in an ecosystem

Abiotic

non-living thing in an ecosystem

water

sunlight

temperature

Producer

produces its own energy

plants from sun

Consumer

a living thing that consumes energy from a producer

Decomposer

a living thing that breaks down chemicals from producers and consumers

Sustainability

avoiding the depletion of natural resources

Biodiversity

the variety of life in an ecosystem

a healthy ecosystem has many different species of plants and animals

Overfishing

Poaching

Pollution

Clear-Cutting

Logging

Introducing invasive species

Taking away native species

Land conversion

Using pesticides on crops