ecology and earth’s systems definitions

Ecology

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment

Biosphere

the part of Earth where life exists

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

Population

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Community

All the different populations that live together in an area

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and their abiotic environment

Biotic factors

living parts of an ecosystem

Abiotic factors

Nonliving components of environment.

Atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

Hydrosphere

All the water on earth

Geosphere

all of the rock at and below Earth's surface

Weather

The condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place.

Climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

greenhouse effect

warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere

Ocean currents

large streams of surface seawater