eco

Abiotic

Non-living components of an ecosystem such as soil, sun, and water.

Biotic

Living parts of an ecosystem like plants and rabbits.

Food webs

All the paths that energy can travel in an ecosystem, showing the flow from the sun to producers, consumers, and top predators.

Dynamic Equilibrium

The balance within an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

The process where plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Respiration

The process where organisms convert glucose and oxygen into water and carbon dioxide to release energy.

Spheres

Different components of the Earth system including the Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere, and Atmosphere.

Open system (for energy)

Energy can enter from space and leave back to space.

Closed system (for matter)

Matter is not created or destroyed, only changes forms.

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon through biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem, impacted by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process where nitrogen is converted by bacteria, lightning, and decomposers into forms usable by plants.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water through the Earth's spheres.

Potassium Cycle

The cycling of potassium important for strong stems and stalks in plants.

Phosphorous Cycle

The slow cycling of phosphorous found in DNA, bones, and cell membranes, not cycled through the atmosphere.

Climate Change Indicators

Signs of climate change include natural disasters, temperature increases, changes in animal migration, melting glaciers, rising sea levels.

FNMI

Acronym for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities.