Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Vocabulary

biodome

a closed ecosystem made by humans

molecule

a group of atoms joined together in a particular way

carbon dioxide

a molecule made of carbon and oxygen atoms

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 they need to survive

system

a set of interacting parts forming a complex whole

reactant

a starting substance that is part of a chemical reaction

carbon

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

glycogen

a type of energy storage molecule - a store for carbohydrates

fat

a type of energy storage molecule - superstars of giving body energy

starch

a type of energy storage molecule made of many glucose molecules connected together

ecosystem

all the living and nonliving things interacting in a particular area

product

an ending substance that is made during a chemical reaction

producer

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

consumer

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

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, such as air, water, and rocks

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

mitochondrion

the part of a cell where cellular respiration happens

chloroplast

the part of a cell where photosynthesis 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)

atom

the tiny pieces that all matter—all the stuff in the world—is made of

connect

to link two or more things

decomposer

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

organisms

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria