Ecosystem
all the living and non-living organisms in a particular location
abiotic factors
non-living components in an ecosystem (water, soil, carbon dioxide,etc)
biotic factors
all the living components in an ecosystem (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, animals)
Cellular respiration
the process that takes food energy and turn it into cellular energy, ATP
Glucose + Oxygen ---> ATP + Carbon Dioxide and Water
takes place in mitochondria
Photosynthesis
the process of taking in carbon dioxide and water and turning it into food for the plant (glucose) using the energy from the sun.
Carbon dioxide + water ---> glucose + oxygen
food chain
path of energy flow in an ecosystem
Source of all energy
the sun
chemosynthesis
process that makes food for an organism using inorganic materials (bacteria)
autotroph
also known as a producer
make own food in their body
uses photosynthesis and chemosynthesis
heterotroph
also known as a consumer
eaters other organisms for food
herbivore
organisms that eat plants
omnivore
organisms that eat plants and animals
carnivore
organism that eats other animals
detritivore
decomposer
eat dead or decaying materials
food web
interconnected food chains in an ecosystem
energy pyramid
shows the energy transfer through different trophic levels
only 10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels
habitat
where an organism lives within an ecosystem
niche
- the role of an organism in their environment.
- May include requirements for space, moisture, food, temperature, reproductive conditions.
competition
- interaction of organisms to get food, water, shelter, mates, etc.
predation
- the pursuit of other organisms as a food source
predator
organism that is hunting the prey for food
prey
the food source for the predator
mutualism
- two organisms that benefit from a relationship
commensalism
- one organism benefits while the other receives no harm/benefit
parasitism
- one organism benefits, one is harmed.
Limiting factors
biotic and abiotic factors that prevent a population from continually increasing
carrying capacity
max number of organisms an environment can support
emigration
organisms leaving a particular ecosystem
immigration
organisms moving into a particular ecosystem
biogeochemical cycles
- Cycles that circulate water, carbon and nitrogen from the non-living environment to living organisms and then back to the environment.
transpiration
water evaporating from leaves of plants through stomata.
combustion
- burning of wood and fossil fuels that releases CO2
respiration
burn sugar to create ATP and release CO2
erosion
- breakdown of limestone and release of carbon
decomposition
breakdown of wastes or decaying material, releases CO2
evaporation
- liquid water leaving the earth's surfaces and becoming water vapor in the atmosphere.
infiltration
- water that seeps into the soil to become groundwater.
precipitation
- rain, sleet, snow, etc.
assimilation
absorption of and use of nitrogen to make organic compounds by plants.
ammonification
production of ammonia by bacteria during the decay process.
nitrification
production of nitrates from ammonia by Nitrifying bacteria. (nitrates can then be used by plants.)
denitrification
conversion of some nitrates into nitrogen gas by Denitrifying bacteria.