Ecosystems Ecology / Biomes (Module 10 & 11) II

gross primary productivity

the rate at which photosynthetic producers incorporate energy from the Sun

hydrosphere

the region of the planet in which water exists, including the atmosphere that contains water vapor and the region beneath the ground that contains groundwater

intertidal zone

the part of the ocean that is closest to land; parts extend above the water at low tide

net primary productivity

the energy that remains in the producers after accounting for the organisms’ respiration and heat loss

non-renewable resource

a resource, such as a fossil fuel, that is either regenerated very slowly or not at all

oceanic zone

the part of the ocean that begins oƯshore where the water measures 200 m deep or deeper

pelagic realm

(also, pelagic zone) the open ocean waters that are not close to the bottom or near the shore

permafrost

a perennially frozen portion of the Arctic tundra soil

photic zone

the upper layer of ocean water in which photosynthesis is able to take place

autotroph

an organism that uses sunlight as an energy source to synthesize its own food molecule

primary consumer

the trophic level that obtains its energy from the producers of an ecosystem

producer

the trophic level that obtains its energy from sunlight, inorganic chemicals, or dead or decaying organic material

resilience (ecological)

the speed at which an ecosystem recovers equilibrium after being disturbed

resistance (ecological)

the ability of an ecosystem to remain at equilibrium in spite of disturbances

savanna/grassland

a biome located in the tropics with an extended dry season and characterized by a grassland with sparsely distributed trees

secondary consumer

a trophic level in an ecosystem, usually a carnivore that eats a primary consumer

subtropical desert

a biome found in the subtropics with hot daily temperatures, very low and unpredictable precipitation, and characterized by a limited dry-adapted vegetation

temperate forest

a biome found in temperate regions with moderate rainfall and dominated structurally by deciduous trees

temperate grassland

a biome dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants due to low precipitation, periodic fires, and grazing

tertiary consumer

a trophic level in an ecosystem, usually carnivores that eat other carnivores

trophic level

the position of a species or group of species in a food chain or a food web

tropical rainforest

a biome found near the equator characterized by stable temperatures with abundant and seasonal rainfall in which trees form the structurally important vegetation

wetland

environment in which the soil is either permanently or periodically saturated with water