Ecology- the study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment.


Ecosystem-all the living organisms that live in one area and the nonliving features features of their environment.



How an Ecosystem Works

 
Together the living (biotic) and nonliving factors (abiotic) in an area is called an ecosystem.  The populations (groups) of specific plants and animals that live together in an ecosystem make up a community.  Ecosystems are constantly changing.  Some changes to an ecosystem like a species becoming extinct may be hard to see, while others like forest fires or volcanoes are easier to see and understand.  One of the major parts of life in an ecosystem is finding energy. All living things in an ecosystem need energy to survive. The cycle of organisms eating and being eaten is one way that parts of the environment interact with each other. The main source of energy life on Earth comes from the sun. Plants use light energy from the Sun to make food. Organisms that use the sun for producing food are called producers, such as algae, grass, trees, and vegetables.


Herbivores: 
Plant eaters


Carnivores
Meat Eaters


Omnivores 
Plant & Meat eaters


Decomposers
Feed on waste and on dead, decaying plants and animals.

eastern screech owl