Ecosystems

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Ecosystem

A system that includes all biotic factors in an area, as well as its abiotic factors, functioning together as a unit.

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ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffBiotic Factors

Biotic factors are all of the living organisms within an ecosystem. These may be plants, animals, fungi, and any other living things.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

Interspecific Competition

A form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resource in an ecosystem, (e.g. food or living space).

Intraspecific Competition

Members of the same species competing for limited resources.

Producer

An autotrophic organism that serves as a source of food for other organisms in a food chain. Producers include green plants, which produce food through photosynthesis.

Consumer

A heterotrophic organism that obtains food from feeding off other organisms.

Decomposer

An organism whose function involves the recycling of nutrients through the natural process of decomposition, as it feeds on dead or decaying organisms.

Trophic Level

A position in a food chain or Ecological Pyramid occupied by a group of organisms, e.g. photosynthetic plants occupy first trophic level, herbivores on second trophic level, and carnivores on third trophic level.