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Ecology and the Biosphere

Science

Ecology and the Biosphere Chapter Video

Ecology and the Biosphere Chapter Video

abiotic factor

a nonliving part of the environment, like water, light or temperature
abiotic factor Simple Definition

autotroph

an organism that uses energy from the sun to produce its own food, like plants
autotroph Simple Definition

biogeochemical cycle

the movement of a chemical through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
biogeochemical cycle Simple Definition

biomass

total mass of all living matter in a given area
biomass Simple Definition

biome

large areas with similar climates, plants, and animals, like a tundra, taiga or desert
biome Simple Definition

biosphere

the part of Earth with life, its land, water and atmosphere
biosphere Simple Definition

biotic factor

a living factor in the environment, like plants or animals
biotic factor Simple Definition

carnivore

an animal that only eats other animals
carnivore Simple Definition

chemosynthesis

a process by which some organisms, like bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
chemosynthesis Simple Definition

consumer

unlike a plant, cannot make its own food, instead it eats other living things
consumer Simple Definition

decomposer

an organism that breaks down dead organisms and waste, like fungi or bacteria
decomposer Simple Definition

denitrification

when a bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas
denitrification Simple Definition

detritivore

an organism that feeds on dead organic matter
detritivore Simple Definition

ecology

how organisms interact with their environment
ecology Simple Definition

ecosystem

all the living and nonliving things interacting in an area
ecosystem Simple Definition

energy pyramid

the diagram of energy loss through a food chain
energy pyramid Simple Definition

food chain

the food energy transfer between organisms in an ecosystem
food chain Simple Definition

food web

a model of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem
food web Simple Definition

herbivore

an animal that eats only plants
herbivore Simple Definition

heterotroph

an organism that cannot make its own food, including all animals
heterotroph Simple Definition

nitrogen fixation

the process in which soil bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia
nitrogen fixation Simple Definition

nutrient

a substance that an organism needs to live, like water or minerals
nutrient Simple Definition

omnivore

can eat both plants and animals
omnivore Simple Definition

phytoplankton

microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that float near the water’s surface, like algae
phytoplankton Simple Definition

plankton

tiny microscopic organisms that float or drift in water
plankton Simple Definition

producer

organism that can make its own food, like all plants
producer Simple Definition

trophic level

a step in the food chain or food web
trophic level Simple Definition

zooplankton

floating animal plankton
zooplankton Simple Definition

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