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Unit Four
Unit Four EES
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| biotic | living or once living components of a community |
| abiotic | the non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem |
| ecosystem | a community of living organisms (plants, animals, microbes) interacting with each other and their non-living environment (sunlight, air, water, soil) in a specific area. |
| interactions | the relationships and exchanges between living organisms (biotic factors) and their non-living environment (abiotic factors) |
| trophic levels | the specific, hierarchical positions organisms occupy in a food chain or web, categorized by their feeding behavior and role in energy transfer |
| producer | an organism, such as a plant, algae, or bacteria, that creates its own food using sunlight (photosynthesis) or chemical energy (chemosynthesis) |
| consumer | an organism in an ecosystem that cannot produce its own food and must eat other organisms—plants, animals, or both—to obtain energy |
| decomposer | organisms—such as bacteria, fungi, and worms—that break down dead plants, animals, and waste into simpler nutrients |
| biomes | a large, naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major habitat, defined by its specific climate (temperature and rainfall) and geography |
| food web | a complex, interconnected network of multiple food chains that shows how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem |
| food chain | a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients are transferred from one organism to another in an ecosystem. It illustrates "who eats whom," |
| autotroph | an organism that produces its own food (energy) using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis or chemical reactions |
| heterotroph | an organism that cannot produce its own food and must consume other organisms (plants, animals, or organic matter) to gain energy and nutrients |
| carbon | a highly versatile, essential nonmetallic chemical element (symbol C, atomic number 6) that serves as the fundamental building block for all known life on Earth. I |
| carbon dioxide | colorless, odorless greenhouse gas essential for life, composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. Produced through respiration, burning fossil fuels, and decomposition, inhaled by plants for photosynthesis, traps heat in the atmosphere, |
| carbon cycle | carbon atoms travel between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, rocks, and living organisms; balancing carbon levels necessary for life and climate regulation via photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and the burning of fossil fuels. |
| decomposition | the natural process of breaking down dead organic matter into simpler, smaller molecules, such as nutrients, water, and carbon dioxide. It is carried out by decomposers like bacteria and fungi, |
| combustion | a chemical process in which a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat - an exothermic reaction |
| respiration | inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide to supply cells with oxygen for producing energy and removing waste. It encompasses both the physical act of breathing and the chemical process of converting nutrients into usable energy |
| photosynthesis | the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy in the form of sugar (glucose) and release oxygen as a byproduct. |
| ocean acidification | the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; it occurs when seawater absorbs human-produced carbon dioxide, creating carbonic acid and increasing acidity |
| biodiversity | the incredible variety of all living things on Earth, including the different species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the genetic differences within them and the diverse ecosystems (like forests, oceans, and deserts) they form |
| organic matter | carbon-based material from living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) that is either currently alive, dead, or in decomposing. In soil, it serves as a critical, nutrient-rich, and stable component formed by decomposed plant and animal residues. |
| carbon sinks | any natural or artificial reservoir—such as forests, oceans, or soil—that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. By locking away carbon, these systems reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the air, |
| carbon footprint | the total amount of greenhouse gases—mainly carbon dioxide and methane—released into the atmosphere by human actions |
| atomic number | the number of protons found in the nucleus of every atom of a specific element |
| atomic masss | the total mass of an atom, primarily determined by adding together the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus |
| atomic nucleus | the tiny, dense, positively charged center of an atom, containing nearly all its mass |
| neutrons | a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom that has no electric charge (neutral) and a mass slightly greater than a proton |
| protons | a stable, positively charged subatomic particle located in the nucleus (center) of every atom |
| electrons | a tiny, negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the center (nucleus) of an atom |
| valence electrons | the electrons located in the outermost electron shell (or energy level) of an atom |
| orbitals or shells | the specific, layered, orbit-like paths or energy levels surrounding an atom’s nucleus where electrons are found |
| climate | the long-term average of weather patterns in a specific area, typically calculated over 30 years or more. It describes the expected, typical atmospheric conditions—such as temperature, rain, and wind |
| ice cores | a cylinder-shaped sample of ice drilled from glaciers or ice sheets, acting as a "frozen time capsule" that records Earth's past climate |
| ecosystem resillency | the ability of a natural system (like a forest or reef) to absorb disturbances—such as fires, floods, or human impact—and bounce back, maintaining its essential structure and functions. |
| tree rings | Tree rings=a tree's age & environmental history, each ring = one year of growth made of a light-colored, fast-growing spring layer & a dark, slow-growing summer layer. Wide rings = wet, and warm conditions; narrow rings = drought or poor growth. |
| fossils | the preserved remain, impression, or trace of any once-living organism from a past geological age, typically over 10,000 years old |
| bioaccumulation | the gradual buildup of harmful chemicals, such as pesticides or heavy metals, within an organism's tissues faster than they can be broken down or excreted |
| biomagnification | the increasing concentration of toxic substances (like mercury or DDT) in the tissues of organisms at each higher level of a food chain. |
| bioindicator | a living organism—such as a plant, animal, or microbe—used to measure the health of an ecosystem and detect environmental changes or pollution levels. By observing their presence, absence, or behavior, scientists can assess environmental stress |
| genetic diversity | the variety of different genes and inherited traits within a population or species. |
| species diversity | the variety and relative abundance of different species present in a given ecosystem or area |
| fragmentation | the breaking up of large, continuous natural areas (like forests) into smaller, isolated patches, caused by human activity such as building roads, agriculture, or urban development. It reduces biodiversity by isolating wildlife, & restricting movement, |
| species | a group of organisms that can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring. |
| population | a group of individuals of the same species living in the same, specific geographical area at the same time.; a subset of a species; These individuals are capable of interbreeding and interacting with each other. |
| community | the assembly of all living populations (plants, animals, fungi, microbes) interacting together within a specific area. It represents only the biotic (living) components of an ecosystem |
| ecosystem diversity | the variety of different habitats, communities, and ecological processes within a specific region or across the entire planet. |
| species diversification | the increase in the number and variety of distinct species within an ecosystem or region over time |
| organic pollutants | carbon-based chemical substances, often human-made, that contaminate the environment and harm living organisms; generally toxic, do not easily break down, & can accumulate in the food chain, causing long-term health risks to humans and wildlife |
| climate trend | a long-term, consistent, and lasting change in average weather conditions over a period of decades or more (typically 30 years or longer); shows a persistent trend toward a specific state, such as warming, cooling, getting drier, or becoming wetter |
| symbiotic relationship | a close, long-term interaction between two different species living together in an ecosystem |
| predation | a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts, kills, and consumes another organism (the prey) for energy and nutrients |
| mutualism | a type of symbiotic relationship in an ecosystem where two or more different species interact, and both partners benefit from the partnership |
| commensalism | benefit one while the other is unaffected |
| parasitism | benefit one while harming the other |
| soil | the loose, top layer of the Earth's surface, acting as a natural medium for plant growth. It is a complex, living mixture of weathered minerals, organic matter (dead/decaying plants and animals), water, and air |
| heavy metals | dense, naturally occurring metallic elements—such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic—that are toxic even at low concentrations and bioaccumulate in living organisms. |
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