The Nature Of Ecosystems- Glossary Flashcards

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1
Q

Ecosystem

A

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

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2
Q

Biome

A

A large naturally occurring climax community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat

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3
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living factors which affect the ecosystem e.g. Predation, disease and competition

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4
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living factors which affect the system e.g. Rocks, weather, sunlight

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5
Q

Inputs in an ecosystem

A

Things coming into the system e.g. Water, C02, 02, matter and nutrients

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6
Q

Outputs in an ecosystem

A

Ways which nutrients are transferred out of the system e.g. Animals move out of the system, evapotranspiration, through-flow and groundwater flow

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7
Q

Flows within an ecosystem

A

Within an ecosystem nutrients can be taken from one store to another e.g. From soil vegetation through capillary uptake by plant roots

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8
Q

Stores in an ecosystem

A

The three main ones are vegetation, plant litter and soils

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9
Q

Trophic levels

A

Producers->primary consumers-> secondary consumers -> tertiary consumers

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10
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process by which plants use light to synthesise nutrients from CO2 and water

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11
Q

Biomass

A

The total of plant and animal life in an ecosystem

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12
Q

Autotrophs/primary producers

A

Organisms which can make their own food from either chemicals or the sun

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13
Q

Primary consumers/herbivores

A

The organism which consumes the primary producers

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14
Q

Secondary consumers/carnivores

A

The organism which can consume the primary consumers

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15
Q

Top predators

A

The predators at the top of the food chain which can consume organisms on all trophic levels beneath it

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16
Q

Omnivores

A

Organisms which can consume both animal and plant matter

17
Q

Soil

A

A mixture of weathered rock, air, water and decomposed organic matter on the surface of the earth

18
Q

Litter

A

The dead organic matter on top of the soil

19
Q

Leaching

A

The of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil due to rain and irrigation. Soil structure, crop planting, type and application rates of fertilisers

20
Q

Food chain

A

A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food

21
Q

Decomposers

A

An organism especially a soil bacterium, fungus or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material

22
Q

Detritivores

A

An organism which feeds on dead material and other waste products