Living World: Ecosystems and Biomes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to ecosystems and biomes as discussed in the lecture notes.

Ecosystem

All the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts of an area.

Producer

An organism that uses sunlight energy to produce food, e.g., grass.

Consumer

An organism that gets its energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposer

An organism that obtains energy by breaking down dead material, e.g., bacteria and fungi.

Nutrient cycling

The transfer of nutrients from the soil to plants, to consumers, and back to the soil.

Food chain

A linear sequence showing what eats what in an ecosystem.

Food web

A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

Temperate deciduous forest

An ecosystem with mild winters, warm summers and a rich biodiversity of trees and animals.

Biomes

Large ecological areas on Earth characterized by specific climate, flora, and fauna.

Tropical rainforest

An ecosystem with high biodiversity, located near the equator, characterized by warm temperatures and heavy rainfall.

Desertification

The degradation of land making it drier and less productive.

Hot desert

An ecosystem that receives less than 250mm of rainfall annually and experiences extreme temperatures.

Ecotourism

Sustainable tourism that focuses on the natural environment and conservation.

Conservation

The responsible management of natural resources to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.