Food Web: Glossary

B

bacteria

microscopic living organisms which can cause illness, participate in fermentation or decompose

bison

large animal related to the cow found in North American plains

C

cannibals

any life form that eats its own kind

carbon dioxide

a gas that plants use in the making of food

carnivores

animals that eat other animal life

circulating

to move in a circular pattern

crayfish

a freshwater creature smaller but similar to a lobster

D

decomposer

a life form that breaks down dead plant and animal tissues into simpler substances

decomposition

the process done by the decomposer

dependent

relying on something else to complete a task

E

energy

the ability to work

F

food chain

a system that carries energy through living organisms

fungi

a living organism from the family that includes molds, mushrooms, and yeasts

H

herbivores

animals that eat plants

I

illness

unwell - to be sick

L

larvae

the young of certain organisms

M

maggots

the young of certain flies

microbes

microscopic living organisms

minerals

a type of matter that is neither plant nor animal and is often found in soil

N

nutrients

matter that gives nourishment

O

omnivore

animals that eat both plants and animals

P

photosynthesis

the process plants use to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugar energy

predators

animals who hunt their food

primary consumers

the first level of the food chain after producer - an herbivore or omnivore which eats plant life

process

a series of actions in a system

produce

to cause

producers

plants are the producers in the food chain because they are the cause of passing food energy

S

scavengers

an animal or other organism that does not kill its own food, but eats off of food left by other forms of life

secondary consumer

a carnivore or omnivore which eats primary consumers

shrew

small rodent similar to a mouse or rat

survival

to continue to live

T

tertiary

third in order, rank, level, stage, formation, etc

W

wild

in the natural part of the world - not cared for by humans