Chapter 24: Global Ecology and Human Interferences

Biosphere

Regions of Earth inhabited by living organisms.

Ecosystem

Region where organisms interact with environment.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Land-based ecosystems categorized by temperature and rainfall.

Aquatic Ecosystems

Ecosystems in freshwater and marine environments.

Abiotic Components

Non-living materials like water, rocks, and air.

Biotic Components

Living organisms within an ecosystem.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce organic matter from sunlight.

Primary Production

Creation of organic matter by autotrophs.

Biomass

Cells and tissues of living organisms.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume biomass produced by others.

Herbivores

Organisms that feed exclusively on plants.

Carnivores

Organisms that feed exclusively on other animals.

Omnivores

Organisms that eat both plants and animals.

Detritus Feeders

Decomposers that consume non-living organic matter.

Niche

Role of an organism in its ecosystem.

Energy Flow

Transfer of energy through trophic levels.

Trophic Levels

Feeding positions in a food web.

Food Web

Complex network of dietary energy transfer.

Ecological Pyramid

Representation of biomass distribution in ecosystems.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Natural pathways for chemical circulation in ecosystems.

Reservoir

Storage of inorganic nutrients in ecosystems.

Exchange Pools

Sources of readily available inorganic nutrients.

Water Cycle

Movement of water through evaporation and precipitation.

Carbon Cycle

Exchange of CO2 between atmosphere and organisms.

Nitrogen Cycle

Transformation of nitrogen into usable compounds.

Biomagnification

Increase in toxin concentration up food chain.

Eutrophication

Nutrient overload causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases trapping heat, contributing to global warming.

Mercury Contamination

Toxic accumulation of mercury in ecosystems.