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
