chapter 5 KEY TERMS Flashcards
photosynthesis
the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.
producers
an organism that produces organic compounds from simple substances such as water and carbon dioxide; an autotroph.
consumers
an organism that derives the organic compounds and energy it needs from the consumption of other organisms
decomposer
an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
cellular respiration
Cellular respiration is a set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert chemical energy from oxygen molecules
food chain
the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms
food web
a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms
trophic level
The trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food web.
carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
it is capable of transforming atmospheric nitrogen into fixed nitrogen that is usable by plants.
nitrogen cycle
The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.
phosphorus cycle
The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus
ecological succession
Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.
primary succession
Primary succession is one of two types of biological and ecological succession of plant life
secondary succession
plants and animals recolonize a habitat after a major disturbance
