An ecosystem consists of all living and non-living components in an area. It includes abiotic factors like air, water, and soil as well as biotic factors such as plants, animals, and microbes. Organisms within an ecosystem interact as populations of the same species, communities of multiple populations, and through their roles or niches. Producers like plants generate food and oxygen while consumers eat other organisms and decomposers break down dead matter.

1. Chapter 5, Lesson 1Interactions in an Ecosystemecosystemabiotic factorbiotic factorpopulationcommunityecologyhabitatnicheproducerdecomposerconsumertopsoilhumus

2. ecosystem – all the living and non-living things in an areaClick to access link!

3. abiotic factor – the non-living parts of an ecosystemmineralswaterlightairtemperaturesoil

4. biotic factor – the living parts of an ecosystemanimalsplantsprotistsbacteriafungi

5. population – all the organisms of the same species living in an area

6. community – all the populations living in an area

7. ecology – the study of how all things in an ecosystem interactClick to access link!

8. habitat – the place where an organism lives Click pictures to access links!

9. niche – the role of an organism in its communityWhat does the species eat?What eats the species?What environment does the species need?Is the species active by night or by day?NO TWO SPECIES CAN FILL THE SAME NICHE!

10. producer – an organism that produces oxygen and food like plants and algae

11. consumer – animals are consumers. They eat algae, plants, or other animals.

12. decomposer – organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and worms that break down dead plants and animals into useful things like minerals that enrich the soil.

13. topsoil – the top layer of soil

14. humus – partly decayed plant matter