Bio Vocab

Food web

Network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

A process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light and energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates.

Primary producer

First producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms.

Food chain

Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

Detritus

Material made up of decaying bits of plant and animal material.

Trophic level

Each step in a food chain or food web.

Heterotroph

Organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer.

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean.

Autotroph

Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to produce its own food.

Biomass

Total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.

Ecological pyramid

Model of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web.

Chemosynthesis

Process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates.

Consumer

An organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply.

Niche

Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and how it uses those conditions.

Karyotype

Micrograph of the complete diploid set of chromosomes grouped together in pairs, arranged in order of decreasing size.

Chromosomes

Threadlike structure of DNA and proteins that contains genetic information.

Autosomes

Chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; also called autosomal chromosome.

Sex Chromosome

One of two chromosomes that determines an individual’s sex.

Genes

Sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait.

Alleles

One of a number of different forms of a gene.

Genetics

Scientific study of heredity.

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism.