Vocabulary Learning Objectives Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary from the unit on ecosystems, focusing on definitions and concepts related to biomes, productivity, and ecological interactions.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Biogeochemical cycles

Processes that recycle nutrients and energy throughout ecosystems.

Salinity

The concentration of salt in water, affecting aquatic life.

Phytoplankton

Tiny photosynthetic organisms in water that produce oxygen and form the base of aquatic food webs.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two different species.

Predator-prey relationship

An interaction where one organism (predator) hunts and consumes another organism (prey).

Biome

A large community of plants and animals that share similar climates and environments.

Eutrophication

The process where water bodies become enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.

Nutrient availability

The presence of essential nutrients in an ecosystem that supports plant and animal life.

Gross primary productivity

The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area.

Net primary productivity

The rate of energy storage by plants in a given area after accounting for energy used in respiration.

10% rule

The principle stating that only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Carbon cycle

The series of processes through which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Nitrogen fixation

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, making it accessible for plants.

Hydrologic cycle

The cycle of water circulation between the earth's surface and the atmosphere.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Food web

A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.