The Biosphere

5. A group of ecosystems that have similar climates and organisms
8. The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
9. The parts of the planet in which all life exists
10. Feeds on dead matter, such as an earthworm
12. All the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their physical environment
13. Another name for a heterotroph
14. A network of all the food chains in an ecosystem
16. Eats both plants and animals
17. Each step in a food chain or food web
20. The main source of energy on Earth
21. _____ factor: Any living part of an environment
23. Consumes the carcasses of other animals, such as a vulture

1. Eats only animals
2. The process in which autotrophs use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
3. _____ factor: Any nonliving part of an environment
4. Organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food
6. Obtains energy by eating only plants
7. Organism that relies on other organisms for their energy and food
11. Breaks down organic matter, such as a fungus
13. Different populations that live together in an area
15. A series of steps that shows the energy flow from producer to consumers
18. Individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
19. The process in which autotrophs capture light energy and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugars
22. Another name for an autotroph