biology chapter 3-4 vocabulary
biosphere
Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.
denitrification
Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas
ecology
Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
chemosynthesis
Process by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
biogeochemical cycle
Process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another
nitrogen fixation
Process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
limiting nutrient
Single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem
secondary succession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
keystone species
a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.
habitat
Place where an organism lives
species
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
food chain
(ecology) a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member
food web
(ecology) a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains
ecological succession
(ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
niche
(ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)
ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
symbiosis
A close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.
biome
A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms
population
A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
community
A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
biomass
A measure of the total dry mass of organisms within a particular region
commensalism
A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited
mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
primary succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed
predation
An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism
decomposer
An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
detritivore
An organism that consumes organic wastes and dead organisms.
consumers
An organism that eats other organisms
biotic factor
Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact
nutrients
Compounds in food that the body requires for proper growth, maintenance, and functioning
ecological pyramid
Diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
trophic level
Each step in a food chain or food web
competitive exclusion principle
Ecological rule that states that no two species can occupy the same exact niche in the same habitat at the same time
pioneer species
First species to populate an area during primary succession
abiotic factor
Non-living factors including temperature, water, sunlight, wind, rocks and soil
scavengers
an animal that feeds on carrion, dead plant material, or refuse.
phytoplankton
plankton consisting of microscopic plants.
zooplankton
plankton consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals.
parastism
relationship where 2 species where one gets nutrilized at a disadvantage of the other
