Vocabulary Unit 2 Nat.Sci.

Vocabulary words defined for the topic "Ecosystems":

1. Ecosystem: A community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with each other and their non-living environment.

2. Habitat: The natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism.

3. Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal species in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

4. Producer: An organism, usually a plant, that can make its own food through photosynthesis.

5. Consumer: An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter.

6. Decomposer: An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead plants and animals into simpler substances.

7. Food chain: A series of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next organism in the chain.

8. Food web: A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

9. Predator: An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals.

10. Prey: An animal that is hunted, killed, and eaten by other animals.

11. Adaptation: A physical or behavioral characteristic that helps an organism survive in its habitat.

12. Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce food (glucose) and release oxygen.

13. Biome: A large-scale ecosystem characterized by specific climate conditions and dominant plant and animal species.

14. Conservation: The protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources and ecosystems.

15. Pollution: The presence of harmful substances or contaminants in the environment, which can negatively impact living organisms.