Biology A Unit 2 Populations

biotic

Describes living factors in the environment.

abiotic

Non-living things

photosynthesis

Plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen

glucose

A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

cellular respiration

cells use glucose and oxygen to produce energy, oxygen and water

oxygen

gas produced by plants, used by animals

carbon dioxide

gas produced by animals, used by plants

producers

lowest level of the pyramid, plants

primary consumers

animals that eat producers

secondary consumers

animals that eat primary consumers

tertiary consumers

eat secondary consumers, top of the pyramid

decomposer

eats dead stuff, breaking it down

limiting factor

An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing

carrying capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

native species

Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem

non-native species

Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans.

invasive species

non-native species that cause harm

eutrophication

excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of waterwhich causes a dense growth of plant lif e and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

top of pyramid

least # of individuals, least amount of energy

bottom of pyramid

greatest # of individuals, most energy

heterotroph

organisms that eat other organisms

autotroph

organisms that make their own food from the sun