READ: Intro to Ecology and Energy Systems

Lesson Objectives

• Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors.
• Define ecosystem and other ecological concepts.
• Describe how energy flows through ecosystems.
• Explain how food chains and webs model feeding relationships.
• Identify trophic levels in a food chain or web.

Vocabulary

• abiotic factor
• biomass
• biotic factor
• carnivore
• chemoautotroph
• competitive exclusion principle
• decomposer
• detritivore
• detritus
• ecology
• food chain
• food web
• habitat
• herbivore
• niche
• omnivore
• photoautotroph
• saprotroph
• scavenger
• trophic level