Abiotic
All of the NON-LIVING factors (water, soil, temperature) that make up an environment.
Biodiversity
the variety of different plants and animals in an environment
Biome
a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and organisms
Biosphere
made up of all life on Earth (both plants and animals)
Biotic
All of the LIVING organisms (plants, animals, fungi) that live in an environment
Carbon Cycle
cycle in which Carbon is exchanged between the environment and living things
Carnivore
consumer that eats meat (from other animals)
Carrying Capacity
largest population that an environment can support
Cellular Respiration
a process in which sugar is broken down into energy - part of the Carbon Cycle
Community
consists of all populations of species that live and interact in an area
Competition
when two or more individuals or populations try to use the same resource such as food, water, or shelter
Consumer
organisms that can't produce it's own food and must eat to gain energy
Decomposer
organisms that get energy by breaking down dead organisms
Ecology
the study of interactions of organisms within an environment
Ecosystem
a community of living organisms as well as the abiotic environment they live in
Environmental Problem
can be found in all areas of the world and affect land, water, and air. Some result from what humans take from the environment including deforestation, erosion, and loss of biodiversity. Other problems come from what humans put into the environment includ
Environmental Solution
actions that can be done to prevent or reverse environmental problems
Food Chain
diagram that show how energy in food flows from one organism to another
Food Web
diagram that show the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem
Habitat
area of an ecosystem that an organism lives in
Herbivore
consumer that eats only plants
Limiting Factors
resource that is so scarce that it limits the size of a population
Niche
the role that an organism has in its environment
Nitrogen Cycle
cycle in which Nitrogen moves between the environment and living things
Omnivore
consumer that eats both plants and animals
Organism
anything that is alive
Photosynthesis
a process in which plants take sunlight and carbon dioxide and produce sugar and oxygen - part of the Carbon Cycle
Population
group of individuals of the same species that live together
Predator
organism that eats other organisms
Prey
organism that is eaten by other organisms
Producer
organisms that can make their own food (aka plants)
Scavenger
an organism who has a diet of dead animals and plants
Succession
development of a community over time; types include Primary and Secondary
Symbiosis
a close, long term relationship between two or more species; the individuals in a this type of relationship can benefit from, be unaffected by, or be harmed by the relationship.
Trophic Energy Pyramid
a diagram that shows an organisms position in the food chain; plants are level one and top predators are level 4-5
Water Cycle
cycle in which water moves between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things