Ecosystems and Material Cycles Definitions

Abiotic factors

Non-living aspects of an ecosystem like temperature and light intensity.

Belt transect

Line in a sampled area with quadrats to assess organism abundance.

Biodiversity

Variety of living organisms in an ecosystem.

Biofuel

Renewable energy source from biomass.

Biomass

Total organic mass in a specific area over time.

Biotic factors

Living components of an ecosystem like food availability.

Blackspot fungus

Indicator species sensitive to sulfur dioxide levels.

Blood worm

Indicator species adapted to high pollution water.

Captive breeding program

Breeding endangered animals in enclosures to boost populations.

Carbon cycle

Movement of carbon between organisms and the environment.

Community

All species populations in a habitat.

Competition

Organisms vying for the same resources in an ecosystem.

Compost

Dead organic matter used as fertilizer.

Conservation

Human efforts to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.

Crop rotation

Growing different crops in a cycle to replenish nutrients.

Decomposers

Organisms breaking down dead matter into simpler forms.

Decomposition

Breakdown of dead materials into organic matter.

Denitrifying bacteria

Microbes converting nitrate ions to nitrogen gas in waterlogged soils.

Desalination

Process removing salts from water to make it drinkable.

Ecosystem

Organisms and non-living components interacting in an area.

Efficiency of biomass transfer

Transfer efficiency between trophic levels.

Efficiency of energy transfer

Energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels.

Eutrophication

Pollution-induced algal blooms reducing water oxygen.

Fertilisers

Added to soil to enhance plant growth.

Fish farming

Commercial breeding of fish to counter overfishing.

Food chain

Feeding relationships in a trophic pyramid.

Food security

Ensuring populations access safe, nutritious food.

Freshwater shrimp

Indicator species sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels.

Indicator species

Species indicating environmental conditions.

Interdependence

Organisms relying on each other for survival.

Lichen

Indicator species used to monitor air pollution.

Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship benefiting both organisms.

Nitrifying bacteria

Convert ammonium ions to nitrate in soil.

Nitrogen cycle

Movement of nitrogen between organisms and the environment.

Nitrogen fixation

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrogen compounds.

Non-indigenous species

Foreign species not native to an area.

Parasitism

One organism benefits at the expense of the host.

Pollution

Contamination of the environment by human activities.

Population

Organisms of the same species in a habitat.

Potable water

Safe drinking water.

Predators

Consumers that hunt and eat other animals.

Prey

Animals hunted and eaten by predators.

Pyramid of biomass

Table showing living material mass at trophic levels.

Quadrat

Grid used to sample and assess organism distribution.

Reforestation

Replanting forests to restore biodiversity.

Reverse osmosis

Desalination method using a membrane to purify water.

Seed bank

Storage of viable seeds for biodiversity protection.

Sludgeworm

Indicator species adapted to high pollution water.

Stonefly larvae

Indicator species sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels.

Sustainable

Maintaining resources for future generations.

Thermal desalination

Desalination using heat to separate water from salts.

Trophic level

Organism's position in a food chain.

Water cycle

Movement of water between organisms and the environment.