competition - struggle for resources among organisms

limiting factors - factors in an environment that limit the size of a population (could be biotic or abiotic)

Predator/prey: predators kill and eat other organisms | prey are killed for food

A carrying capacity is the number of organisms of any single species that and ecosystem can support

Habitat - specific environment that is home to a species.

Consumers - Heterotrophs are also known as consumers. This includes Herbivores - organisms that survive of plant tissue and Carnivores - organisms that eat other animals

Producers - autotrophs are also known as producers. they provide a source of food energy for almost all other living things.

Decomposers - consume wastes and dead bodies of organisms. This allows for materials to be recycled and reused by producers.
Scavengers - consumers that eat dead organisms.

Food Webs - diagrams illustrating complex feeding relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers. Organisms have several food choices and food chains are interconnected

Energy Pyramid - illustrates the transfer of energy through a food chain or web. Each level in the pyramid represents the amount of energy that was obtained from the level below. The bottom, starting with producers has the most energy. Going up from there, energy decreases.

• Is the reason for the complexity and proper function of ecosystems.
• The numerous interactions among multiple different species allow for the survival and maintenance of the environment.
  

• The more biodiversity in an ecosystem, the more resistant it is to major change.
• Allows for the recycling of materials and balance in the environment.
• Different species take on different roles that contribute to cleaning the environment or protecting other organisms.

• Contributes to the benefit of humans through food, medicine, and profit.