Any organism which brings energy into an ecosystem from inorganic sources. Most plants and many protists are producers. Process by which new organisms are generated. Reproduction may be sexual, involving the fusion of gametes, or asexual. A measure of the salt concentration of water.
Higher salinity means more dissolved salts.
Organism which feeds on dead and decaying organisms, allowing the nutrients to be recycled into the ecosystem. Fungi and bacteria are two groups with many important saprophytes. Any large photosynthetic protist , including rhodophytes and kelps . Seaweeds are not true plants , but like plants they can make their own food. Many organisms, both plants and animals, spend the majority of their lives in one place.