Group of organisms of different species living together in a particular area
Community
A community of organisms and the nonliving or abiotic parts of the environment
Ecosystem
The outer portion of Earth where air, water, soil and life is found.
Biosphere
Organic matter that is undergoing decomposition
Compost
The smallest unit of matter that still has the characteristic properties of a substance
Atom
A substance composed of only one type of atom
Element
More than one atom chemically bonded together such as N2.
Molecule
When two or more types of atoms are chemically bonded in definite proportions such as CO2.
Compound
An organism that lives on decaying organic material, from which it obtains energy and its own raw materials for life
Decomposer
The mass of all living organisms in a given environment.
Biomass
Organisms that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis
Producer
Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms
Consumer
Each of the levels of an energy pyramid or food web
Trophic level
A model that shows all of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Food web
Biotic or abiotic parts of the ecosystem where carbon is stored such as the atmosphere or herbivores
Carbon pool
When energy is changed into a different form such as when sunlight is changed into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis
Energy transformation
The process where carbon atoms are continually transferred through the processes of photosynthesis, eating, death and defecation and cellular respiration in an ecosystem
Carbon cycle
The process where nitrogen atoms undergo chemical changes that make them available to organisms and allow for return to the atmosphere
Nitrogen cycle
The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.
phosphorus cycle
Cycle that includes evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation.
water cycle
Microscopic, free-floating, autotrophic organisms that function as producers in aquatic ecosystems
Phytoplankton
Waters that move away from the coast are replaced by nutrient rich cold water from below that come up to the surface
coastal upwelling
The process by which living organisms produce larger molecules from smaller ones.
Biosynthesis