Chapter 3 - The Biosphere

Front 1

ecology

Back 1

scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Front 2

individual organisms (species)

Back 2

a single individual from a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
example: one human being

Front 3

population

Back 3

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
example: galapagos tortoise

Front 4

community

Back 4

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area
example: the animals that live in norther region of Alaska

Front 5

biome

Back 5

a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms
example: desert

Front 6

biotic factor

Back 6

any living part of the environment which an organism might interact
examples: animals, plants, bacteria

Front 7

abiotic factor

Back 7

physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem
examples: water, temperature, humidity

Front 8

autotroph

Back 8

organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer
examples: algae, some bacteria, plants

Front 9

primary producer (autotroph)

Back 9

first producer or energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms
examples: algae, some bacteria, plants

Front 10

heterotroph

Back 10

organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer
examples: humans, animals

Front 11

consumer (heterotroph)

Back 11

organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph
examples: humans, animals

Front 12

carnivores

Back 12

organism that obtains energy by eating animals
examples: lions, snakes

Front 13

scavengers

Back 13

animal that consumes the carcasses of other animals
example: vultures

Front 14

decomposers

Back 14

organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter
examples: bacteria, fungi (mushrooms)

Front 15

herbivores

Back 15

orgainism that obtains energy by eating only plants
examples: cows, deer

Front 16

omnivore

Back 16

organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
examples: people, coati, bears, pigs

Front 17

detrivores

Back 17

organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

Front 18

food chain

Back 18

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

Front 19

food web

Back 19

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

Front 20

trophic level

Back 20

each step in the food chain or food web

Front 21

10% rule

Back 21

about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level

Front 22

biomass

Back 22

total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Front 23

biogeochemical cycling

Back 23

the process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Front 24

evaporation

Back 24

the process by which water as a liquid is changed into water vapor which is a gas

Front 25

condensation

Back 25

the process by which water as a gas (water vapor) condenses (changes) to a liquid

Front 26

ecosystem

Back 26

all the organisms that live in a place, together with their non-living environment
example: the animals in the Everglades along with the plants, water, soil, etc.