Ecosystem definitions Flashcards
ecosystem definition
a group of organisms which interact with each other and the surrounding environment so that matter is exchanged between the biotic and abiotic parts
biotic
organic matter e.g animals and plants
abiotic
non-organic matter e.g sun, water, soils
gross primary production
the rate at which an ecosystem produces new growth or biomass together with the carbonate used for respiration
net primary production
if respiration is excluded
photosyntehis
sunlight, water and carbon dioxide is taken in by plants/algae/bacteria to produce carbonate and oxygen
biomass
living matter calculated by a total dry weight in a given unit area at one point in time. usually measured in kg/m2
autrotroph
organisms which create energy by fixing sunlight (primary producers)
omnivore
consumes both plants and animals
trophic level
organisms which all obtain their food in the same way e..g herbivores
detrivores
consume decaying matter e.g. earthworms and woodlice
herbivores
consumes primary producers
carnivores
secondary consumers that consume primary consumers
saprophyte
organisms that feed on dead/decaying matter
food chain
flow of energy from one set of organisms to the next
