| A | B |
|---|
| food chain | a linear relationship showing the "chain" of a food source up to the ultimate consumer at the top |
| food web | All known feeding relationships within an ecosystem of organisms related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions; the entirety of interrelated food chains in an ecological community |
| Chemical level of study | atoms/elements which make up an organism |
| Molecular level of study | molecules that are important units of matter that make up specialized parts and processes within an organism |
| Cellular level of study | Organization of cells (tissues, organs, and organ systems) in an organism |
| Organism level of study | the various processes, behaviors, and evolution within/regarding an organism |
| Population level of study | a group of the same organism in one particular area |
| biosphere level of study | all areas on a planet where life exists (ranging from deep below the ocean's surface to high up into the atmosphere and all the land inbetween) |
| 9 levels of organization studied in the world of biology from smallest to largest | biosphere, biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism, cellular, molecular, chemical |
| Ecosystem | a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area as well as all of the nonliving physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact |
| 5 trophic levels (largest to smallest) | Quaternary consumers, tertiary consumers, secondary consumers, primary consumers, primary producers |
| trophic level | the feeding position in a food chain |
| Decomposers | organisms that consume dead organisms |
| Community Level of Study | Groups of organisms living together in a specific area |
| Ecosystem level of study | All the living organisms and their nonliving environment in a determined area |
| Biome level of study | Large geographical areas and the organisms that inhabit them |
| Producer | Autotrophic: an organism that makes its own energy |
| Consumer | Heterotrophic: an organism that feeds on other organisms |
| decomposer | consumes other dead or decaying organisms |
| autotrophic (autotroph) | an organism that makes energy using either sunlight or chemical resources, and does not eat other organisms |
| heterotrophic (heterotroph) | an organism that eats other organisms |
| trophic level | term given to identify a feeding position in a food chain |
| detritus | product of decomposers who convert dead organic material into detritus |
| detritivore | an organism who eats detritus material produced by decomposers |
| abiotic factor | any non-living part of the environment |
| biotic factor | any living part of the environment |
| photosynthesis | the process of using the sun's energy to get food/energy |
| chemosynthesis | the process of using chemicals such as gases to get food/energy |
| pyramids of energy | show the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web |
| biogeochemical cycles | the recycling of elements, as they pass from one organism to another |
| the main nutrient cycles | the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and phosphorus cycle |
| limiting nutrient | the nutrient whose supply limits productivity in an ecosystem |
| nitrogen fixation (biological) | the process by which bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia so that it can be used by primary producers to make proteins/nucleic acids |
| chemotrophic (chemotroph) | an autotroph that obtains energy through chemical processes, such as gases |
| photosynthesis | the process by which plants and other things make food. It is a chemical process that uses sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into sugars the cell can use as energy. |
| phototrophic (phototroph) | an autrotroph who uses the sun's light (photons) to stimulate the production of sugars in order to get energy |
