Terminology
Ecosystem-the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
ecosystem-a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Organism-an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
population- all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.
Community-a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
Biome-a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat,
biotic factor-anything that lives in an echosystem
abiotic factors- non living things in an ecosystem
Biodiversity-a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat,
Keystone-a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were remove the ecosystem would change drastically.
Producers-An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria.
Consumers/Heterotroph-An organism that cannot manufacture its own food and instead obtains its food and energy by taking in organic substances, usually plant or animal matter. All animals, protozoans, fungi, and most bacteria.
Photosynthesis-the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct
Herbivore-an animal that feeds on plants.
Carnivore-an animal that feeds on flesh
Omnivore-an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.
Detritivore-an animal that feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus.
Decomposer-an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
Specialist-person who concentrates primarily on a particular subject or activity; a person highly skilled in a specific and restricted field.
Generalist-a person competent in several different fields or activities.
Trophic level-each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.
Food web-a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.
Hydrologic cycle-the natural sequence through which water passes into the atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns to the atmosphere through evaporation.
Biogeochemical cycle- is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth.
Nitrogen fixation-the chemical processes by which atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated into organic compounds, especially by certain microorganisms as part of the nitrogen cycle.
Biomass-organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity.
Energy pyramid-is a graphical model ofenergy flow in a community. The different levels represent different groups of organisms that might compose a food chain.
Habitat-the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
Niche-a shallow recess, especially one in a wall to display a statue or other or
