Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere Flashcards
Dynamic Equilibrium
describes any system with constant change in which the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system
Biodiversity
the number of species in an ecosystem
Autotroph
an organism that uses the Sun’s energy and raw materials to make its own food; a producer
Heterotroph
an organism that is incapable of making its own food, and so it must feed on other organisms to gain energy
Indicator Species
a species sensitive to small changes in environmental conditions
Detritus
waste from plants and animals, including their dead remains
Trophic Level
a category of living things defined by how it gains its energy
Chemosynthesis
the process by which non-photosynthetic organisms convert inorganic chemicals to organic compounds without solar energy
Chemoautotroph
an organism that can synthesize organic compounds from inorganic chemicals without using solar energy
Thermodynamics
a scientific study of energy transformations, described by laws
Biomass
the total dry mass of all the living material in an ecosystem
Monoculture
cultivation of a single species
Transpiration
the loss of water through plant leaves
Percolation
the movement of a liquid through a porous material
Leaching
the removal of soluble minerals by percolation
