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Cycles
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Biogeochemical cycle | Movement of elements and nutrients through living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of the environment via biological, chemical, and geological processes. |
| Biotic factors | Living components of an ecosystem. |
| Abiotic factors | Nonliving physical and chemical components of an environment. |
| Nutrient cycle | The recycling of essential elements needed for life through ecosystems. |
| Solvent | A substance that dissolves other substances. |
| Temperature buffer | Something that helps maintain a stable temperature. |
| Evaporation | Process where liquid water changes into water vapor due to heat energy. |
| Condensation | Process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water. |
| Precipitation | Water released from clouds that falls to Earth (rain, snow, sleet, hail). |
| Percolation | Movement of water through soil and porous rock layers. |
| Transpiration | Loss of water vapor from plant leaves through stomata. |
| Stomata | Tiny openings in plant leaves that allow gas exchange and water loss. |
| Groundwater | Water stored beneath Earth’s surface in soil and rock. |
| Aquifer | Underground reservoir that stores groundwater. |
| Surface runoff | Water that flows over land when soil cannot absorb more water. |
| Macromolecule | Large biological molecule such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, or nucleic acids. |
| Photosynthesis | Process where plants and algae use carbon dioxide, water, and light to produce glucose. |
| Aerobic cellular respiration | Process by which cells use oxygen to release energy from glucose. |
| Decomposer | Organism (such as bacteria or fungi) that breaks down dead matter and waste. |
| Fossilization | Long-term process that forms fossils and fossil fuels from dead organisms. |
| Combustion | Burning of a substance in oxygen that releases energy and produces carbon dioxide. |
| Nitrogen fixation | Conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonium ions by bacteria or lightning. |
| Ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) | Form of nitrogen produced during nitrogen fixation and decomposition. |
| Nitrification | Conversion of ammonium ions into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria. |
| Nitrite (NO₂⁻) | Intermediate nitrogen compound formed during nitrification. |
| Nitrate (NO₃⁻) | Form of nitrogen that plants can absorb from soil. |
| Assimilation | Uptake and use of nutrients by organisms. |
| Ammonification | Conversion of organic nitrogen in waste or dead organisms into ammonium ions. |
| Denitrification | Conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas by bacteria in low-oxygen conditions. |
| Symbiotic bacteria | Bacteria living in close association with another organism where both benefit. |
| Limiting nutrient | Nutrient in short supply that restricts growth in an ecosystem. |
| Phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) | Form of phosphorus that plants absorb from soil or water. |
| Weathering | Breakdown of rocks that releases minerals into soil and water. |
| Sedimentation | Process where particles settle and form layers that can become rock over time. |
| Uplift | Geological process that raises rock layers from beneath Earth’s surface. |
| Detritus | Dead organic material produced by decomposing organisms. |
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