The Living World: Ecosystems

A compilation of key vocabulary terms and definitions related to ecosystems for review.

Intraspecific competition

Competition between members of the same species.

Interspecific competition

Competition between members of different species.

Resource partitioning

A strategy where species divide a resource to reduce competition.

Biomes

Large ecological areas on Earth’s surface with flora and fauna adapting to their environment.

Abiotic factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect ecosystems.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which all the autotrophs in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of energy that photosynthetic organisms create in a given area and time.

Carbon cycle

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

Nitrogen fixation

The process of converting nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia.

Hydrologic cycle

The cycle of water from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.

Ecosystem services

Benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living.

Species diversity

The variety of species within a certain region.

Genetic diversity

The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.

Ecological tolerance

The range of environmental conditions that a species can withstand.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, etc.

Biogeochemical cycles

Cycles that involve the movement of elements and compounds through both biotic and abiotic components of the Earth.

Producer

Organisms that produce their own food, primarily through photosynthesis.

Consumer

Organisms that consume other organisms for energy.