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Hydrologic Cycle
The movement of water through the biosphere, transitioning from the atmosphere to Earth's surface and back.
Biogeochemical Cycle
The movements of matter within and between ecosystems.
Transpiration
The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis.
Evapotranspiration
The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.
Runoff
Water that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers.
Carbon Cycle
The movement of carbon around the biosphere.
Producers
Organisms that take up carbon from the atmosphere via photosynthesis and pass it on to consumers and decomposers.
Consumers
Organisms that obtain energy by consuming producers or other consumers.
Decomposers
Organisms that break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the ecosystem.
Respiration
The process by which organisms return carbon to the atmosphere and water.
Combustion
The process of burning fossil fuels and other organic matter, returning carbon to the atmosphere.
Macronutrient
One of the six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Limiting Nutrient
A nutrient required for the growth of an organism but available in a lower quantity than other nutrients.
Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen around the biosphere.
Nitrogen Fixation
The process by which some organisms convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia (NH3).
Nitrification
The conversion of ammonium (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate (NO3-).
Assimilation
The process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues.
Mineralization
The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down organic matter and convert it into inorganic compounds.
Ammonification
The process by which decomposers convert organic nitrogen into inorganic ammonium (NH4+).
Denitrification
The conversion of nitrate (NO3-) into nitrous oxide (N2O) and eventually nitrogen gas (N2), which is emitted into the atmosphere.
Leaching
The transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater.
Phosphorus Cycle
The movement of phosphorus around the biosphere.
Algal Bloom
A rapid increase in the algal population of a waterway, often due to excess phosphorus.
Hypoxic
A condition low in oxygen.
Weathering
The process of breaking down rocks, releasing nutrients like phosphorus into the soil and water.
Phosphate Fertilizer
A substance that releases phosphorus into the soil and water for use by producers.
Sulfur Cycle
The movement of sulfur around the biosphere.
Sulfate Ions
Ions (SO4^2−) released from weathered rocks that can be taken up by producers.
Volcanoes
Natural events that release sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere.
Ecosystem
A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components.
Biosphere
The region of our planet where life resides, encompassing all ecosystems on Earth.
Trophic Levels
The successive levels of organisms consuming one another in an ecosystem.
Producer
An organism that uses energy from the Sun to produce usable forms of energy; also known as an autotroph.
Consumer
An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms; also known as a heterotroph.
Photosynthesis
The process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Cellular Respiration
The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds.
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given time.
Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
The energy captured by producers in a system minus the energy producers respire.
Food Chain
The sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers.
Food Web
A complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels.
Scavenger
An organism that consumes dead animals.
Detritivore
An organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles.
Decomposers
Fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem.
Ecological Efficiency
The proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another.
Trophic Pyramid
A representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels.
Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen around the biosphere.
Nitrogen Fixation
The process by which some organisms convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia (NH3).
Nitrification
The conversion of ammonium (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate (NO3-).
Phosphorus Cycle
The movement of phosphorus around the biosphere.
Algal Bloom
A rapid increase in the algal population of a waterway, often due to excess phosphorus.
Hydrologic Cycle
The movement of water through the biosphere.
Transpiration
The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis.
Biomass
The total mass of all living matter in a specific area.
Ecological Efficiency
The proportion of ...consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another.
Trophic Pyramid
A representation of ….of the distribution of biomass, numbers or energy among trophic levels.
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