| A | B |
|---|
| food chain | a pathway along which energy (in the form of food) is transferred from one trophic level to another |
| community | all the organisms living in one area |
| population | individuals of one species living in one area |
| ecosystems | all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact |
| biosphere | a term used to describe the global ecosystem |
| food pyramid | a model for the food chain that demonstrates the loss of energy along the chain |
| trophic efficiency | the percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next |
| marine biome | largest biome in the world; most temperature stable biome; provides most of the Earth's food and oxygen |
| photic zone | area in a marine biome that receives light |
| aphotic zone | area in a marine biome that receives little light penetration |
| benthic zone | bottom area of a marine biome |
| tropical rain forest | a biome that is located near the equator; most diversity of species and available niches; high dense canopy; dimly lit forest floor |
| temperate grassland | a biome that covers vast areas of the world; low rainfall makes area inhospitable for forests; grazing animals |
| desert | a biome that receives little rainfall; experiences the most extreme temperature fluctuations; plant have shallow roots |
| temperate deciduous forest | a biome located in the northeast region of the U.S.; trees drop their leaves in the winter; soil is rich in humus |
| taiga | a biome located in northern Canada; landscape is dotted with lakes, ponds and bogs; very cold winter |
| tundra | a biome located in the far north; contains permafrost; often called the frozen north |
| mutualism | a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the relationship |
| commensalism | a symbiotic relationship where one individual benefits from the relationship and the other remains unharmed (not effected) |
| parasitism | symbiotic relationship where one individual benefits from the relationship and the other is harmed |
| aposematic coloration | a protective coloring mechanism where bright colors warn possible predators that this animal is poisonous |
| Batesian mimicry | a protective coloring mechanism that allows copycat coloration; harmless animal mimics the coloring of an animal that is poisonous |
| Mullerian mimicry | unique coloring where two or more poisonous snake species mimic each otehr to gain an advantage of combined numbers |
| nitrogen cycle | the biogiochemical cycle that includes nitrogen fixing bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and bacterial decomposer |
| nitrogen fixing bacteria | bacteria (Rhizobium) that live in the nodules of legumes and convert free nitrogen into NH4+ |
| eutrophication | an environmental probem caused by runoff of sewage, fertilizers, and manure from pastures increases nutrients in lakes and causes excessive growth of algae and other plants |
| acid rain | an environmental problem caused by pollutants in the air caused by the combustion of fuels; creates nitric and sulfuric acids in the atmosphere; damages lakes and destroys ancient stone architecture |
| water cycle | the biogeochemical cycle that involves water evaporation from the land and precipation |
| carbon cycle | the biogeochemical cycle that involves cell respiration, burning of fossil fuels and photosynthesis |
| global warming | excessive burning of fossil fuels causes high concentration of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air |
| habitat destruction | massive destruction brought about by agriculture, urban development, mining, forestry and environmental pollution |
