environment

All the living and nonliving things that surround and affect an organism.

adaptation

A trait or characteristic that helps an organism survive

physical adaptation

An adaptation to a body part

behavioral adaptation

Something an animal does to help it survive

instinct

A behavior an animal knows how to do without having to learn it.

extinction

A plant or animal species that is no longer living or existing.

succession

A gradual change of the kinds or organisms in an ecosystem

producer

An organism that can make its own food.

consumer

An animal that cannot make its own food and must eat other plants or animals to get energy

decomposer

An organism that feeds on and breaks down dead plants and animals

carnivore

An animal that eats other animals

herbivore

An animal that eats only plants

omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and other animals

endangered

any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range

extinct

A species is extinct when the last existing member dies