Ecology and Connection Set 2

Ecosystem

a community of different species interacting with one another and the nonliving environment of matter and energy

ecosphere or biosphere

all of the earth's ecosystems together

metabolism

the complete set of chemical reactions that carry out the role of capturing and absorbing energy from an organism's environment

asexual reproduction

the perpetuation of an organism by one parent, occurs by simple celled vision and is common in single celled organisms

sexual reproduction

organisms that produce offspring by combining sex cells or gametes such as ovum and sperm from both parents

evolution

changes in the genetic composition of organisms through time

core

the innermost layer of the earth made of iron and nickel

mantle

thick solid layer surrounding the core

asthenosphere

the "plastic" region of the mantle, not solid portion of the mantle, right under the crust

crust

the outermost and thinnest zone of the earth