definition Flashcards
atmosphere
the layer of gases surrounding Earth
lithosphere
Earth’s solid outer layer
hydrosphere
all of Earth’s water in solid, liquid, and gas form
biosphere
the zone around Earth where life can exist
ecosystem
all living organisms and their physical-chemical environment
biotic factors
living things, their remains, and features, such as nests, associated with their activities
abiotic factors
the non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem
sustainable ecosystem
an ecosystem that is maintained through natural process
sustainability
the ability to maintain an ecological balance
radiant energy
energy that travels through a empty space
light energy
visible form of radiant energy
thermal energy
the form of energy transferred during heating or cooling
photosynthesis
the process in which the Sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy
producer
an organism that makes its own energy-rich food compounds using the Sun’s energy
consumer
an organism that obtains its energy from consuming other organisms
cellular respiration
the process by which sugar and oxygen are to converted into carbon dioxide and water, to provide energy for the cell
ecological niche
the function a species serves in its ecosystem, including what it eats, what eats it, and how it behaves
food chain
a sequence of organisms, each feeding on the next, showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another
food web
a representation of the feeding relationships within a community
ecological pyramid
a representation of energy, numbers, or biomass relationship in ecosystems
biomass
the mass of living organisms in a given area
biogeochemical cycle
the movement of matter through the biotic and abiotic environment
water cycle
the series of processes that cycle water through the environment
carbon cycle
the biogeochemical cycle in which carbon is cycled through the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
nitrogen cycle
the series of processes in which nitrogen compounds are moved through the biotic and abiotic environment
limiting factor
any factor that restricts the size of a popultion
tolerance range
the abiotic conditions within a species can survive
carrying capacity
the maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain
