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Biology Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biosphere | part of earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere |
| species | a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring |
| population | group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area |
| community | assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined are |
| ecosystem | all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment |
| biome | a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms |
| ecology | scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environments |
| biotic factor | any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact |
| abiotic factor | physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem |
| autotrophs | organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer |
| primary producers | first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms |
| photosynthesis | process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches |
| chemosynthesis | process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates |
| heterotrophs | organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer |
| consumers | organism that relies on others for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph |
| food chain | series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten |
| phytoplankton | photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean |
| food web | network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem |
| zooplankton | small free-floating animals that form part of plankton |
| trophic level | each step in a food chain or food web |
| ecological pyramids | illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web |
| biomass | total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level |
| biogeochemical cycles | process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another from one biosphere to another |
| nutrients | chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life |
| nitrogen fixation | process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use |
| denitrification | process by which bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas |
| limiting nutrient | single essential nutrient that limits productivity inn an ecosystem |
Created by:
jakewilson75
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