Geography A Level Ecosystems Definitions

Front 1

Autotrophs

Back 1

Organisms that feed themselves by photosynthesis, first trophic level (producers), bottom of food chain

Front 2

Trophic levels

Back 2

Levels of energy in a food chain, usually shown by a pyramid diagram, energy is lost at each level due to respiration and excretion

Front 3

Biomass

Back 3

Total mass of all living things in an ecosystem

Front 4

Reducer organisms

Back 4

E.g fungi, bacteria and earthworms that reduce dead and decaying organic matter and return nutrients to the soil

Front 5

Omnivores

Back 5

Consumer organisms that eat meat and plants (usually top of food chain)

Front 6

Biome

Back 6

Large scale ecosystem e.g tropical rain forest

Front 7

Decomposers

Back 7

E.g bacteria, fungi that cause brakedown of dead plant, animals etc returning nutrients to soil and plants

Front 8

Detritivores

Back 8

Animals e.g earthworms and vultures that eat dead and decaying organic matter

Front 9

Ecosystem

Back 9

Interrelationship between communities of plants and animals and the environment they live in

Front 10

Energy pyramid

Back 10

Pyramid-shaped diagram showing energy loss between each trophic level

Front 11

Food chain / web

Back 11

Diagram showing links between different aspects of an ecosystem, who eats who, more complex in a web

Front 12

Heterotrophs

Back 12

Organisms that feed off other organisms, consumers

Front 13

Humus

Back 13

Decomposed organic material that improves soil quality

Front 14

Leaching

Back 14

Dissolving in rainwater and downward transfer of nutrients into the soil

Front 15

Nutrient cycling

Back 15

Transfer and recycling of nutrients between the biomass, litter store and the soil