Abiotic
These are the nonliving factors of the environment
Acid Rain
Cloud or precipitation containing pollutants, such as oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, to make them have a lower pH. This can harm forests and concrete structures
Autotroph
This is an organism that obtains its energy from inorganic substances or from the sun
Bacteria
One celled organisms that reproduce by fission, prokaryotic cells, have no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, DNA is ring-shaped
Biodiversity
Number and variety of living organisms; includes genetic, species, and ecological types
Biogeochemical Cycle
A pathway by which a chemical element or molecule moves through both biotic and abiotic compartments of an ecosystem
Biome
This is a group of plants and animals in the same region that have adapted together to the region's environment
Biotic
These are all the living organisms on earth
Carbon Cycle
These are the components of the reservoirs of carbon that are exchanged in our environment.
Carbon Dioxide
This is the gas produced as a result of respiration
Carnivore
This is an organism that gets energy by eating meat, living or dead
Climate
These are the general weather conditions of an area over a long period of time
Commensalism
This is the interaction of two organisms where one is helped and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Coniferous Forest
This is a classification of plant growth within a cold, wet biome known as a taiga; the plants in this are cone-bearing gymnosperms
Conservation
This is the process of preserving or protecting a natural resource
Consumer
This is an organism that relies on other organisms for its food and energy supply; also called a heterotroph
Deciduous Forest
This is a biome that consists of trees that lose their leaves every year
Decomposer
This is an organism that breaks down and gains nutrients from dead organisms
Deforestation
This is the removal of trees and the conversion of forest lands to farmlands, logged areas, or cities
Desert
Arid region that receives less than 10 inches of precipitation annually
Detritivore
This is a heterotrophic organism that consumes dead or decayed tissue and helps to recycle nutrients in an ecosystem
Ecosystem
Populations and abiotic factors with which they interact in the setting of a community
Energy Pyramid
This display graphically shows the energy that is available at each trophic level in a a food chain
Erosion
This is the movement of soil, mud and rock due to the downward movement of wind, water or ice.
Estuary
The thin zone along a coastline where freshwater systems and rivers meet and mix with a salty ocean (such as a bay, mouth of a river, salt marsh, lagoon).
Exponential Growth
This is the type of growth experienced by a population that increases at a rate proportional to its size. The larger the population gets, the faster it grows.
Extinction
This is the ceasing of the existence of any particular species
Food Chain
This is a path for the transfer of matter and energy through an ecosystem by eating and being eaten.
Food Web
A representation of the linkages between food chains in a community
Fresh Water
This type of water has a very low salinity content when compared to brackish and the ocean
Genetic Variation
This is one result of gamete formation through meiosis and fertilization during sexual reproduction that promotes biodiversity within a species.
Global Warming
A theory of overall increase in world near-surface air and ocean temperatures which may be caused by additional heat being trapped by greenhouse gases. The increase of temperatures would cause significant changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level,
Grassland
One of several types of terrestrial biomes, where grasses form the predominant vegetation, usually mixed with herbs and sometimes with shrubs, but usually without trees.
Greenhouse Effect
This is a warming of the planet due to carbon dioxide and heat retention.
Habitat Loss
A process of land use change in which plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed. Generally this results in a reduction in biodiversity
Heterotroph
This is an organism that relies on complex organic substances for nutrition
Logistic Population Growth
This is a model of population growth that assumes that resources are limited and that a population will grow and then level off when that limit is reached.
Marine
Biome with a salt water environment
Mean Annual Precipitation
This is the average of all annual precipitation values known for a specific area. This amount is a factor in distinguishing one biome from another.
Mean Annual Temperature
This is the average temperature for the entire year at any specific location. This is one of the factors in distinguishing one biome from another.
Mold
This is a fossil made when an organism buried in sediment decomposes, leaving a hollow area showing part or all of the organism's structure.
Mutualism
This is the interaction of two organisms where both benefit
Natural Resource
This is any naturally occurring substance that is considered valuable in its relatively unmodified form on Earth.
Nitrogen Fixation
This is the the biological process by which nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia by certain prokaryotes.
Non-native Species
These are organisims that are brought into a new environment, sometimes accidently, sometimes on purpose; and have no natural enemies or controls.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
This is pollution that comes from hard-to-trace sources with no obvious point of discharge
Nuclear Energy
The energy stored in bonds within the nucleus of an atom; energy released from a fission or fusion reaction
Omnivore
This is an organism obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
Oxygen Cycle
These are the components of the reservoirs of oxygen that are exchanged in our environment.
Parasitism
This is a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits but the other is hurt.
Particulate Matter
This is a mixture of small particles and liquid droplets, usually containing any number of components, including acids, metals, and soil or dust particles
Permafrost
This is the permanently frozen stratum below the artic tundra
Photosynthesis
This is a chemical process that uses light to process carbon dioxide in plants
Point Source Pollution
This is any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged
Pollution
This is the contamination of an environment beyond natural correction
Population
All the individuals of a species that live together in one place at the same time
Precipitation
Water for a given biome.
Predation
This is the condition in which one living organism serves as a food source for another
Primary Succession
This is the specific type of succession which occurs when the environment becoms void of any life or soil
Producer
This is an organism that supplies matter and energy, also known as an autotroph
Rain Forest
This is one of the seven major biomes in which rainfall amounts are high and flora and fauna vary greatly; at least one-half of the the world's species are contained in these and primary productivity is extremely high.
Recycling
This is the act of reusing items again.
Secondary Succession
This is the specific type of succession which occurs after a event which simply reduces the already established ecosystem (as oppossed to destroying it completely).
Species
These are groups of reproducing populations that are isolated from other groups.
Succession
This is the regular progression of species replacement that occurs after a disturbance, such as natural disaster, or during the establishment of a new habitat.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Symbiosis
This is an interdependent relationship between two different species
Taiga
This is a northern hemisphere habitat with wet soil.
Technology
This is the use of scientific tools to help make things easier and better
Temperate
This is a term used to describe a region between polar zones and the tropics with warm summers, cold winters and sufficient precipitation to support its species.
Thermal Pollution
This is a type of pollution associated with increases of water temperatures in a stream, lake, or ocean due to the discharge of heated water from industrial processes, such as the generation of electricity.
Threatened Species
An organism facing extinction through destruction of habitat; the process may threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of the species.
Tundra
An ecosystem dominated by lichens, mosses, grasses, and woody plants. It is generally found at high latitudes. It is described as having a marshy surface where mosses, lichens, berries and low shrubs grow with mucky soil and permafrost underneath.
Water Cycle
This is the circulation of water between land, air and surface