Species: groups of organisms that can interbreed--> fertile offspring. Have autotrophic/ heterotrophic method of nutrition, some species e.g. pitcher plants do both
Population: group of organisms, same species that live in same area, same time
Community: populations of different species living & interacting w/ each other
Ecosystem: communities interacting with abiotic environment (air, water, rock...)
Autotrophs: makes own C compounds from CO2 and simple substances
Heterotrophs: obtain C compounds from other organisms
saprotrophs: heterotrophs, obtain organic nutrients from dead organic matter by EXTERNAL digestion e.g. fungi off dead leaves
Consumer: heterotrophs, feed off undigested materials from living organisms by ingestion (fresh dead food)
Detritivore: heterotrophs obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion e.g. earthworms
detritus = organic compounds produced by decomposition of organisms
Sustainability in ecosystems: nutrient availability, detoxification of waste products, energy availability
Food Chain: a sequence of organisms, each of which feeds on the previous one.
Tropic Level: organism's hierarchical level in ecosystem's food chain
