Ecosystem Warm Up Crossword

2. Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms, including herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers.
7. The movement of this element through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, primarily through weathering of rocks and uptake by organisms.
10. Organisms that consume both plant and animal matter for energy.
12. Organisms that feed on dead organic matter and waste, contributing to the decomposition process.
13. The process through which C atoms move between the atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, and geosphere through respiration, photosynthesis, decomposition, and combustion.
15. The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen, forming the basis of most food chains.
17. Points at which a relatively small change in external conditions causes a rapid and possibly irreversible shift in the state of an ecosystem.
18. The continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

1. A group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in a specific geographic area at a given time.
3. Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and waste into simpler substances, returning nutrients to the environment.
4. A complex network of interconnected food chains showing the feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms in an ecosystem.
5. Animals that feed exclusively on other animals for energy.
6. The series of processes by which this element is converted between its various chemical forms, involving fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.
8. The process by which organisms break down glucose in the presence of oxygen to release energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
9. Animals that consume dead organisms that they did not kill themselves, helping to recycle nutrients in ecosystems.
11. Animals that eat only plants or plant-based materials for energy.
14. The circulation of this element in various forms through nature, including its movement through the atmosphere, soil, water, and living organisms, often driven by volcanic activity and decomposition.
16. A step in a food chain or food web that represents the position of an organism in the flow of energy, such as producers, primary consumers, or secondary consumers.