Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Glossary

biodome

a closed ecosystem made by humans

carbon dioxide

a gas found in the atmosphere

molecule

a group of atoms joined together in a particular way

glucose

a molecule that organisms can use to release energy, and that is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms

energy storage molecule

a molecule that organisms can use to release the energy needed to survive

system

a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole

carbon

a type of atom (a tiny piece) that makes up molecules such as carbon dioxide and energy storage molecules

fat

a type of energy storage molecule

starch

a type of energy storage molecule

glycogen

a type of energy storing molecule

ecosystem

all the living and nonliving things interacting in a particular area

producer

an organism that can make its own energy storage molecules (such as glucose)

decomposer

an organism that gets energy storage molecules (such as glucose) by breaking down dead matter

consumer

an organism that needs to eat in order to get energy storage molecules (starch and fat)

organism

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

biotic matter

matter that makes up the living and dead organisms in an ecosystem

abiotic matter

matter that makes up the nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

input

something that is required for a process

output

something that results from a process

energy

the ability to make things move or change

cellular respiration

the chemical reaction between oxygen and glucose that releases energy into cells

chloroplast

the part of a cell where photosynthesis happens

mitochondrion

the part of the cell where cellular respiration happens

photosynthesis

the process by which plants and other producers use energy from sunlight to change carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose (an energy storage molecule)

connect

to link two or more things

atom

the smallest piece of matter