Question

symbiosis and ecology definitions:

• producer-
• consumer-
• omnivore-
• herbivore-
• carnivore -
• decomposer-
• mutualism-
• parasitism-
• commensalism -
• energy pyramid-

Explanation:

To answer, we define each term based on ecology (a subfield of Natural Science - Biology/Environmental Sciences):

• Producer: Organism (e.g., plant) that makes its own food via photosynthesis/chemosynthesis, forming the base of food chains.
• Consumer: Organism that gets energy by eating other organisms (can be herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore).
• Omnivore: Consumer that eats both plants and animals (e.g., humans, bears).
• Herbivore: Consumer that eats only plants (e.g., deer, rabbits).
• Carnivore: Consumer that eats only other animals (e.g., lions, sharks).
• Decomposer: Organism (e.g., fungi, bacteria) that breaks down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients.
• Mutualism: Symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (e.g., bees and flowers: bees get nectar, flowers get pollinated).
• Parasitism: Symbiotic relationship where one species (parasite) benefits at the expense of the other (host, harmed; e.g., ticks on dogs).
• Commensalism: Symbiotic relationship where one species benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed (e.g., barnacles on whales: barnacles get transport, whales unaffected).
• Energy pyramid: A graphical model showing energy flow in an ecosystem, with producers at the base (most energy) and energy decreasing at each trophic level (due to energy loss as heat, waste, etc.).

Answer:

• Producer: Organism that makes its own food (e.g., plants via photosynthesis).
• Consumer: Organism that eats other organisms for energy.
• Omnivore: Consumer that eats plants and animals.
• Herbivore: Consumer that eats only plants.
• Carnivore: Consumer that eats only animals.
• Decomposer: Organism that breaks down dead organic matter.
• Mutualism: Symbiosis where both species benefit.
• Parasitism: Symbiosis where one benefits, the other is harmed.
• Commensalism: Symbiosis where one benefits, the other is unaffected.
• Energy pyramid: Graphical model of energy flow in an ecosystem, with energy decreasing at each trophic level.