SE - Key Terms

Ecosystem

Ecosystem

The plants, animals and non living environment in an area and the links between them

Biome

A large scale global ecosystem e.g. savannah or tropical rainforest

Food chain/ web

Producers, consumers and decomposers linked together

Producers

Organisms at the base of the food chain that use photosynthesis

Consumers

Organisms that feed on producers

Biotic

Living elements of an ecosystem e.g. plants and animals

Abiotic

Non living elements of an ecosystem e.g. water and rocks

Nutrient cycle

The stores and flows of nutrients in an ecosystem

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water

Permafrost

Ground that is frozen throughout the year

Ice shelf

Ice that extends out from the land over the sea

Ice sheet

A layer of ice built up on top of the land

Litter layer

A layer of rotting vegetation on the ground below growing vegetation

Understorey

Layer of low shrubs and trees

Canopy

Layer of tree tops

Emergent layer

Highest trees that grow out above the canopy layer

Decomposers

Fungi and bacteria that aid the breakdown of dead organic material helping release nutrients back into the food chain

Savannah

Ecosystem dominated by grasses and scattered shrubs with distinct wet and dry seasons

Tropical rain forest

Forest ecosystem with high temperatures and rainfall and very little seasonal variation in climate

Tundra

A cold, treeless region around the poles that has permafrost as one of its defining features.

Hot desert

Ecosystem with a hot dry climate and only sparse vegetation that is adapted to difficult living conditions

Temperate forest

A forest ecosystem with a mild wet climate and distinct seasons

Temperate grassland

An ecosystem dominated by grasses with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall