HS BIOLOGY UNIT 9: Biosphere

Biotic

All living factors in an ecosystem.

Abiotic

All nonliving factors in an ecosystem.

Producers

Autotrophic organisms that make their own food.

Consumer

Organisms that must consume other organisms for energy.

Decomposers

Organisms that obtain energy from dead remains of other organisms.

Autotrophs

Describes plants because they make food from sunlight.

Population

Group of same species living in the same area.

Community

Different populations living together in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem

Abiotic and biotic factors in an area.

Mutualism

Both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

One species benefits, the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

One species benefits, the other is harmed.

Primary succession

Example includes new islands formed by the eruption of volcanoes.

Pioneer species

The first species to populate an area during primary succession.

Secondary succession

Example occurs after a forest fire where there was life before destruction.

Carbon cycle

Producers take in carbon, consumers emit carbon; carbon returns to soil when organisms decompose.

Nitrogen cycle

Atmospheric nitrogen must be fixed by bacteria in the soil for plants to absorb and use it.