Question | Answer |
Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment. | ecology |
Illustration of the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or web. | ecological pyramid |
Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean. | phytoplankton |
A step in the food chain or web. | tropic level |
Organism that obtains food by consuming other living things. | heterotroph |
The process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates. | chemosynthesis |
Organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals. | omnivore |
Organism that break down and obtains energy from dead organism matter. | decomposer |
Organism that relies on others for food. | consumer |
Organism that feeds on plants and animal remains and other dead matter. | detritivore |
A series of steps in a ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. | food chain |
Assemblage of different population that live together in a defined area. | community |
Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area. | population |
A group of similar of organisms that can breed fertile offspring. | species |
Physical or nonliving factor that shape an ecosystem. | abiotic factor |
Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and us it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds. | autotroph |
Organism that obtains energy by eating animals. | carnivore |
First producer of energy rich compounds that are later used by other organisms. | primary producer |
Organisms that obtain their energy by eating only plants. | herbivore |
Process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reaction that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy rich carbohydrates. | photosynthesis |
Part of earth in which life exists including land, air, water, and atmosphere. | biosphere |
Animal that consumes the carcus of other animals. | scavenger |
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. | biomass |
Network of complex interaction formed by the feeding relation among the various organism in a ecosystem. | food web |
All the organisms that live in a place together with a nonliving environment. | ecosystem |
A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms. | biome |
Process of converting nitrogen gas in to nitrogen compound that plants can absorb and use. | nitrogen fixation |
Small free floating animals that form part of plankton. | zooplankton |
Single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem. | limiting nutrient |
Process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another. | biogeochemical cycle |
Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact. | biotic factor |
Process by which soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. | denitrification |
Chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life. | nutrient |