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ecosystem

a community of different species interacting together and with the chemical and physical factors making up its non-living environment

biosphere

part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere

species

groups of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring

community

the population of all species living and interacting in an area

habitat

the place where an organism or a population lives

niche

the total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem

ecotone

A transitional zone where ecosystems meet.

common

usual; shared by all

productivity

the rate of production of energy from a source

autotrophs/producers

base level of the pyramid; organisms that create their own food

organic

Contains carbon; living matter

inorganic

Does not contain carbon; non living

heterotrophs/consumers

organisms that consume other organisms

10% rule

transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next

photosynthesis

climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

primary succession

follows a disturbance so severe that no vegetation or soil life remains; no soil, slow

secondary succession

follows a disturbance that alters an existing community but does not destroy all living things or living things in soil; faster process, begins with natural disaster

aquatic succession

when a body of water is taken over by vegetation; water becomes shallow, less water volume, more fertile

invasive species

species that can live and/or thrive outside of their normal habitat

climax community

a community that remains in place with little modifications until another disturbance restarts succession

food pyramid

a hierarchy of food chains with the principle predator at the top

decomposer

consume all trophic levels; fungi and bacteria; break down material into simpler elements that can be recycled back into the ecosystem

trophic level

producers/autotrophs, consumers

biome

contains characteristic communities of plants and animals that result from, and are adapted to, its climate

indicator species

a plant or animal that, by its presence, abundance, scarcity, or chemical composition, demonstrates that some distinctive aspect of the character or quality of an ecosystem is present

keystone species

a species whose activities have a particularly significant role in determining community structure

umbrella species

species selected for making conservation-related decisions, typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat

commensalism

one organism benefits, the other one is not helped no harmed

carrying capacity

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

population density

number of individuals in a population per unit area

energy

flows in one direction through ecosystems

exponential growth

when a population increases by a fixed percentage each year

nitrification

ammonia (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3)

denitrification

Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas

ammonification

decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia

resource partitioning

using the resources in different ways, places, or at different times; can reduce the negative impact of competition on survival

interspecific competition

competition between members of different species

intraspecific competition

competition between members of the same species

detritus

Dead organic matter

limiting factors

determine the carrying capacity of a population

euphotic zone

the upper layers of water where photosynthesis is largely confined because sunlight can penetrate

eutrophication

occurs when a body of water is enriched in nutrients which causes algal bloom; this leads to a decrease in oxygen which kills all organisms

thermal stratification

temperature changes sharply with depth

groundwater

the water that is beneath Earth's surface

surface water

water that collects on the surface of the ground.

oligotrophic

Describes a lake with a low level of productivity

transpiration

water enters the atmosphere by the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves

evapotranspiration

Evaporation of water from soil plus transpiration from plants

infiltration/run off

water returns to earth through streams, rivers, lakes, etc.; some precipitation and surface water soaks down through soil

turbidity

increased sediment in waterways can reduce light infiltration, which can affect primary producers and visual predators

abiotic

Non-living things

biotic

living things

zooplankton

small free-floating animals that form part of plankton

phytoplankton

photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

mutualism

both organisms benefit from the relationship

parasitism

one organism benefits, the other is harmed

pioneer species

First species to populate an area during primary succession

reservoir

reserves, large supply

watershed

An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water

riparian

Having to do with the banks of a body of water

net primary productivity

biomass created from photosynthesis

gross primary productivity

all the energy plants take in from the sun for photosynthesis

flood plains

a plain built up by stream deposition

wetlands

a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is saturated with moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.

micronutrients

vitamins and minerals

macronutrients

carbohydrates, proteins, and fats

cellular respiration

the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food

detritivore

organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

energy flow

The passage of energy through the components of an ecosystem

density-dependent factors

limiting factors are influenced by the population density

density-independent factors

limiting factors are not influenced by population density