living world key words Flashcards
abiotic
non-living components in an ecosystem
biodiversity
the variety of plants and animals pieces in a particular environment
biomass
biological matter. this is food for the next level in the food chain.
biomes
a large scale ecosystem like a rain forest
biotic
living components in an ecosystem
commercial farming
large scale farming. usually to make a profit and to sell products in market.
conservation
preserving, protecting and caring for the environment,
consumer
get energy from eating either producers or other consumers
eg: ladybug, greenfly
decomposer
when dead material decays, nutrients are released into the soil
eg: bacteria,fungi
deforestation
the removal of trees
ecosystem
an ecosystem is made up of plants, animals and their surrounding physical environment, including soil, rainwater and sunlight.
food chain
a simple diagram showing what eats what in a n ecosystem
food web
a complex picture of food chains and how they overlap. they can be composed of thousands of species.
logging
the cutting and then movement of trees.
nutrient cycle
this is when nutrients are transferred throughout the ecosystem: dead materials decompose-this puts nutrients in the soil-plants take nutrients from the soil- consumers eat plants- consumers dies and nutrients return to the soil.
permafrost
most of the ground being permanently frozen.
polar environment
usually found inland, away from influence of warming sea, average temperature below zero
producers
convert energy from sunlight to produce food like pondweed photosynthesis to produce their own food from the sun.
soil erosion
the wearing away of the top layer of soil.
solifluction
permafrost starts to melt in the summer and slides downhill in large amounts, sometimes blocking road access.
substance farming
small scale farming which doesn’t usually make a profit enough is grown to survive and feed families
tundra
found south of the ice caps, most of the ground is permanently frozen
