Ecology and environment - IGCSE Flashcards
Abiotic factors
The non-living aspects of an ecosystem
Biotic factors
The living components of an ecosystem
Biodiversity
The variety of living organisms in an ecosystem
Community
All the populations of different species living together in a habitat
Distribution
The spread of living organisms in an ecosystem. It’s affected by environmental changes which may be seasonal, geographic or man-made
Ecosystem
The community of organisms and non-living components of an area and their interactions
Habitat
The place where an organism lives
Population
All organisms of the same species living with one another in a habitat
Decomposers
Organisms that release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead plant and animal material into simpler organic matter
Decomposition
The breakdown of dead materials into simpler organic matter. The rate of decomposition is affected by temperature, water and oxygen availability
Producers
Photosynthetic organisms at the start of the food chain that provide biomass for all living things
Trophic level
The position of an organism in a food chain
Carbon cycle
The cycle through which carbon moves between living organisms and the environment, involving respiration, PS and combustion
Nitrogen cycle
The cycle through which nitrogen moves between living organisms and the environment
Decomposers
Organisms that release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead plant and animal marerial into simpler organic matter, releasing nitrogen-containing compounds into the soil
