Ecosystem

A community of living organisms (plants, animals, insects) and nonliving parts (water, air, soil) that interact together in a specific area.

Producer

An organism that makes its own food using sunlight through photosynthesis. All plants are producers. Examples: grass, trees, algae

Consumer

An organism that gets energy by eating other organisms. Animals are consumers. Examples: rabbits (eat plants), foxes (eat rabbits)

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil. Examples: mushrooms, earthworms, bacteria

Food Chain

A simple model showing the flow of energy from one organism to the next. Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk

Food Web

A more complex model showing how multiple food chains in an ecosystem are connected and overlapping.

Predator

An animal that hunts and eats other animals for food. Examples: wolves, sharks, hawks, lions

Prey

An animal that is hunted and eaten by a predator. Examples: rabbits, mice, fish, deer

Habitat

The natural home or environment where an organism lives. It provides food, water, shelter, and space. Examples: rainforest, coral reef, desert, pond

Adaptation

A special feature or behavior that helps an organism survive in its habitat. Examples: a polar bear's thick fur, a cactus storing water