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Unit 8 Lesson 4
Living Things and the Carbon Cycle
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| atmosphere | the layer of gases that surrounds the planet |
| biomass | all living (or formerly living) material in an ecosystem |
| biosphere | all the living things on Earth |
| carbon dioxide | the main gas moved during the carbon cycle |
| carbon sink | an area where carbon is stored |
| carbon source | an area or a process that releases carbon |
| geosphere (lithosphere) | the solid Earth, including the crust and Earth's interior |
| hydrosphere | all the water on Earth |
| keystone species | species upon which success of the ecosystem depends |
| marine snow | dead biomass falling from the upper areas of the water column to the lower ares |
| nitrogen | the main gas of the atmosphere on Earth |
| photosynthesis | process by which autotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy |
| plankton | microscopic organisms living in the water; serves as the basis of the food chain |