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Bacteria-
Unicellular organisms that aid in the
decomposition process of organic matter.
Canopy-
The uppermost layer of the forest consisting of
foliage of mature trees.
Carnivore-
An animal that eats only meat.
Consumer-
An organism that obtains its food by preying on
other organisms or by eating particles of organic
matter.
Deciduous-
A plant, including trees, which sheds its leaves
every year at a certain season.
Decomposer-
A plant or animal that feeds on dead or once living
things to break it down before plants use it.
Ecology-
The relationships of living things to one another
and to their environment, or the study of such
relationships.
Ecosystem-
The interacting system of a biological community
with its non-living surroundings.
Evergreen-
Any tree or other plant that has its foliage persist
and remain green all year.
Food Chain-
The sequence of one living organism feeding upon
another, where food energy is moved along to each
consumer in the process
(sun-grass-mouse-fox-bacteria).
Food Web-
A system of food chains that are connected by common
links in a certain community.
Fungi-
Plants that lack chlorophyll; some infect and cause
disease in plants or animals; others are useful in
decomposing solid wastes.
Habitat-
The place where an organism lives.
Herbivore-
An animal that feeds on plants.
Humus-
The organic substance consisting of partially or
wholly decayed vegetation matter that provides
nutrients for plants and increases the ability of
soil to retain water.
Interdependence- Mutually dependent on one another for survival.
Niche-
The role of an organism in the environment, its
activities and relationship to the other living and
non-living parts in the environment. The “job” it
does in contrast to the “place” it lives.
Omnivore-
An organism which feeds on both animal and plant
substances.
Pioneer
Species/Community-
Any species or community which initially invades
barren areas. Pioneer trees are the first species
to invade an unforested area.
Population-
All the living organisms inhabiting a particular
locality.
Producer-
An organism which produces its own organic compounds
from simple substances and many of which are food
sources for other organisms.
Succession-
The gradual replacement of one kind of a community
by another kind; the progressive changes in
vegetation and in animal life which accumulates in
the climax community.
Understory-
The forest layer existing below the canopy,
consisting of smaller trees.
Watershed-
The land area that is drained by a given stream or
river. |
