Ecology

Ecology

Industry: Biology

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Ecology

consumer

Biology; Ecology

Any organism which must consume other organisms (living or dead) to satisfy its energy needs. Contrast with autotroph.

detrivore

Biology; Ecology

Any organism which obtains most of its nutrients from the detritus in an ecosystem.

periphyton

Biology; Ecology

Dense strands of algal growth that cover the water surface between the emergant aquatic plants. Spirogyra is commonly responsible for this growth.

Animal which carries pollen from one seed plant to another, unwittingly aiding the plant in its reproduction. Common pollinators include insects, especially bees, butterflies, and moths, birds, and ...

frugivore

Biology; Ecology

Animal which primarily eats fruit. Many bats and birds are frugivores.

nutrient

Biology; Ecology

Any element or simple compound necessary for the health and survival of an organism. This includes air and water, as well as food.

nutrient cycling

Biology; Ecology

All the processes by which nutrients are transferred from one organism to another. For instance, the carbon cycle includes uptake of carbon dioxide by plants, ingestion by animals, and respiration ...