A. Ecosystems

Flashcards with question and answer about the Tropical Rainforest Glossary

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life in the world or a particular ecosystem

What is a Biome?

A large scale ecosystem, with similarities in climate, plants and animals

What is/are Carbon Sinks?

A forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

What is Conservation?

Managing the environment in order to preserve, protect or restore it

What is a Consumer?

Organism that eats herbivores and/or plant matter

What is a Decomposer?

Organisms such as bacteria or fungi that break down plant and animal material

What is Deforestation?

The cutting down and removal of forest

What is an Ecosystem?

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment

What is Ecotourism?

Nature tourism usually involving small groups with minimal impact on the environment

What is Emergent?

Fast growing trees such as Kapok which out-compete other trees in the tropical rainforest to reach sunlight

What is a Food chain?

Connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely upon one another as their source of food

What is a Food web?

A complex hierarchy of plants and animals relying on each other for food

What does FSC stand for?

The Forest Stewardship Council

What is Nutrient cycling?

On-going recycling of nutrients between living organisms and their environment

What are Producers?

An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis

What is Soil erosion?

The removal of soil by wind and rain

Euthrophication

Polluted minerals is added to water systems

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth

Bio-Sphere

The area of the Earth and its atmosphere where living organisms are found

Lithosphere

The Earth's rigid, rocky outer layer, encompassing the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle

Asthenosphere

A portion of the Earth's mantle that flows like molten plastic despite being solid