the living world Flashcards
ecosystem
a community of interdependent living and non-living elements
biodiversity
s measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
food chain
a simple set of connections showing how a small group of organisms are linked, who ears what
food web
a network of interconnected food chains
producer
an organism e.g a tree that makes its own food via photosyntheseis
consumer
a species that eats another species
herbivore
an organism that only eats plants
carnivore
an organism that eats other animals
decomposer
an organism that breaks down the dead remains of another organism
nutrient cycle
how the minerals that provide energy and substance to living organisms circulate around an ecosystem minerals are moved between the atmosphere biomass litter layer and soil
biomes
large-scale ecosystems defined by factors such as climate, soils and vegetation examples include tropical rainforest, tundra and polar
atmospheric pressure
the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere
air masses
large bodies of air with the same temperature throughout
wind patterns
the semi-predictable movement of masses of air around the world e.g. trade winds
latosol
soil found under tropical rainforests
leaf litter
dead plant material on the ground surface
buttress roots
a shallow root system ensuring the quick take-up of nutrients
irrigation
artificial addition of water to land to help crops grow
salinisation
an increase in the salt content of water
transpiration
the process by which water evaporates from plants into the atmosphere
extreme temperatures
excessive heat or cold
hunter-gatherers
tribespeople who live by hunting and harvesting wild food
shifting cultivation
ground is cultivated and then abandoned to allow its fertility to be restored
commercial farming
crops are produced on a large scale for profit
subsistence farming
crops are produced solely for the farmer and family
settlement
a place where people establish a community
hydroelectric power
producing electricity using water power
economic deveopment
improvement in living standards by creation on jobs
ecotourism
responsible travel to areas that sustains the well-being of the local population and environment
out-migration
moving away from local community
desertification
the process by which previously fertile land becomes desert
pastoral farming
farming aimed a producing livestock rather than crops
terraced fields
used for farming in hilly regions
aquifer
an underground layer of rock that bears water
mass tourism
where tens of thousands of people visit the same place at the same time of year
appropriate technology
science or technology suitable for the area
