Autotroph

Organisms that use energy from the environment to fuel the assembly of simple inorganic compounds into complex organic molecules

Producer

Organisms that make their own food, either by capturing energy from sunlight or from chemical energy

Photosynthesis

Process where autotrophs use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates

Chemosynthesis

Process where organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates. 

Heterotroph

Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply

Consumer

Another name for a heterotroph

Herbivore

Organisms that obtain energy by eating only plants

Carnivore

Organisms that eat animals to obtain energy

Omnivore

Organisms that eat both plants and animals to obtain energy

Detritivore

Organisms that feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter. 

Decomposer

Organisms that break down organic matter.

Food Chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Food Web

Links all the food chains in an ecosystem together.

Trophic level

Each step in a food chain or food web

Ecological Pyramid

a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. 

Biomass

The total amount of living tissue iwthin a given trophic level