detritus feeder
Organism that extracts nutrients from fragments of dead organisms and their cast-off parts and organic wastes. Examples are earthworms, termites, and crabs. Compare decomposer.
Subject:
Chapter 4 - Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling
detritus
Parts of dead organisms and cast-off fragments and wastes of living organisms.
Subject:
detritivore
Consumer organism that feeds on detritus, parts of dead organisms, and castoff fragments and wastes of living organisms. The two principal types are detritus feeders and decomposers.
Subject:
decomposer
Organism that digests parts of dead organisms and cast-off fragments and wastes of living organisms by breaking down the complex organic molecules in those materials into simpler inorganic compounds and then absorbing the soluble nutrients. Producers return most of these chemicals to the soil and water for reuse. Decomposers consist of various bacteria and fungi. Compare consumer, detritivore, producer.
Subject:
cyanobacteria
Single-celled, prokaryotic, microscopic organisms. Before being reclassified as monera, they were called blue-green algae.
Subject:
consumer
Organism that cannot synthesize the organic nutrients it needs and gets its organic nutrients by feeding on the tissues of producers or of other consumers; generally divided into primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), tertiary (higher-level) consumers, omnivores, and detritivores (decomposers and detritus feeders). In economics, one who uses economic goods.
Subject:
condensation nuclei
Tiny particles on which droplets of water vapor can collect.
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community
Populations of all species living and interacting in an area at a particular time.
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climate
Physical properties of the troposphere of an area based on analysis of its weather records over a long period (at least 30 years). The two main factors determining an area's climate are temperature, with its seasonal variations, and the amount and distribution of precipitation. Compare weather.
Subject:
chemosynthesis
Process in which certain organisms (mostly specialized bacteria) extract inorganic compounds from their environment and convert them into organic nutrient compounds without the presence of sunlight. Compare photosynthesis.
Subject:
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