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9th Bio Chapt 4
9th Grade Honors Biology Chapter 4
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| autotroph | 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 producer | 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 |
| heterotroph | organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer |
| consumer | organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph |
| detritus | small pieces of dead or decaying plant or animal remains |
| food chain | a series of in an ecosystem steps 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 |
| trophic level | each step in a food chain or food web |
| ecological pyramid | illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web |
| biomass | the total mass of living tissue within a trophic level |
| biogeochemical cycle | process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another |
| nutrient | 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 soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas |
| limiting nutrient | single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem |