Term | Definition |
species | includes all organisms of a particular kind that are capable of producing bible offspring (that is, individuals which can themselves produce offspring) |
population | disting group of individuals of a species that live, interbreed, and interact in the same geographic area |
habitat | place where the organism or population live |
community | all the populations of organisms that live and interact in a given area at a given time |
ecosystem | self-sustaining, self-regulating community of organism interacting with the physical environment within a defined geographic area |
landscape | many ecosystems taken together |
biome | consists of landscapes grouped across large terrestrial areas of the earth |
biosphere | thin layer of air, water, and soil that surrounds the planet and contains the conditions to support life |
energy | ability to do work—to move matter from place to place or to change matter from one form to another |
first law of thermodynamics | (first law of energy) states during a physical/chemical change, energy is neither created nor destroyed—it may be changed in form and it may be moved from place to place |
second law of thermodynamics | states that with each change in form, some energy is degraded to a less useful from and given off to the surroundings, usually as low-quality heat |
entropy | consequence of the second law of thermodynamics, energy constantly flows from concentrated and organized form to a randomly-dispersed and disorganized form |
matter | anything that has mass and takes up space |
element | substance that cannot be changed to a simpler substance by chemical means |
atom | smallest unit of an element that retains the unique characteristics of that element; it is the smallest particle of an element that can participate in a chemical reaction |
molecule | smallest particle of a substance that has the composition and chemical properties of that substance and is capable of independent existence |
compound | when 2+ elements chemically combine in definite proportions |
organic compounds | compounds containing carbon |
law of conservation of matter | during physical or chemical change, matter is neither created nor destroyed—form can change, can be moved |
macronutrients | chemicals needed by living organisms in large quantities for the construction of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates |
micronutrients | substances needed in trace amounts |
producers | autotrophs |
autotrophs | self-nourishing organisms—given water, nutrients and source of energy, they can produce compounds necessary for their survival |
phototrophs | most producers, including green plants, algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) |
- photosynthesis | phototrophs use sun’s light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into complex chemical bonds forming simple carbohydrates like glucose and fructose |
chemotrophs | autotrophs that use the energy found in inorganic chemical compounds for their energy needs |
- chemosynthesis | convert energy in chemical bonds of hydrogen sulfide to make and store carbohydrates—gives off sulfur compounds into the water |
phytoplankton | microscopic floating plants and algae, function as the major producers in aquatic systems |
consumers | heterotrophs |
heterotrophs | eat by engulfing or predigesting the fluids, cells, tissues, or water products of other organisms |
macroconsumers | feed by ingesting or engulfing particles, parts, or entire bodies of other organisms, either living or dead |
herbivores | primary consumers |
primary consumers | eat producers directly |
- carnivores | eat other animals |
secondary consumers | secondary consumers |
omnivores | consumers that eat both plants and animals |
tertiary consumers | carnivores that eat secondary consumers |
scavengers | those that consumer the entire dead organism |
detritivores | detritus feeders |
detritus feeders | consumers that ingest fragments of dead or decaying tissues or organic wastes |
microconsumers | feed on tissues of the dead organism; they also consume the waste products of living things |
decomposers | micro consumers that live on or within their food source |
- limiting factors | abiotic and biotic regulators that determine the distribution nd success of living organisms |
eutrophication | natural aging of a lake |
law of tolerances | living organisms, populations, and communities have a range of tolerances for each of the abiotic limiting factors |
- indicator species | species that indicates, by either its presence or absence, certain environmental conditions |
prey | living organisms serve as food for other organisms |
- predators | organisms that obtain their food by eating other living organisms |
keystone species | species that has significant role in community organization due to its impact on other species |