Science ecology test chunk one

What is an organism

An individual living thing.

What is the lithosphere

The solid, rocky outer layer of Earth (land/ground).

What is the atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

What is the hydrosphere

All of Earth’s water (oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater).

What is an invasive species

A non-native species that spreads and harms an ecosystem.

What is cellular respiration

The process where organisms break down food to release energy.

What is photosynthesis

The process where producers use sunlight to make food from water and CO₂.

What is a producer

An organism that makes its own food using sunlight (or chemicals).

What is a primary consumer

An organism that eats producers (plants or algae).

What is a secondary consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers (herbivores).

What is a tertiary consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores).

What does a consumer do

Eats producers or other consumers for energy.

What is a decomposer

Breaks down dead organisms and waste, returning nutrients to ecosystem.

What is a food chain

A linear flow of energy from one organism to another.

What is a food web

Many interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

What does a food pyramid show

How energy (and number of organisms) decreases at each trophic level.

What is the 10% rule / why does energy decrease up the pyramid

Only about 10% of energy passes to the next level — most is lost as heat or used by organisms.

What is ecology

The study of interactions between living things and their environment.

What does biotic mean

Living or once-living things.

What does abiotic mean

Non-living environmental factors (water, light, soil, temperature, etc.).

What is an ecosystem

All organisms in an area + abiotic factors interacting together.

What is a population

A group of individuals of the same species living in an area.

Organic

Farming that avoids synthetic chemicals and relies on natural methods.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill pests that can also harm ecosystems.

Bioamplification

Toxins increase in concentration higher up the food chain.

Bioaccumulation

Harmful substances build up in an organism over time.

DDT

A banned pesticide that caused major harm to wildlife, especially birds.

Fertilizer

Nutrients added to soil that can pollute water if overused.

Methane

A strong greenhouse gas released by livestock, landfills, and wetlands

Water cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff on Earth.

Carbon cycle

The circulation of carbon between the atmosphere, living organisms, oceans, and soil.

Nitrogen cycle

The process where nitrogen moves between the air, soil, and organisms through fixation, nitrification, and decomposition.