| A | B |
|---|
| abiotic | assemblage of nonliving physical or chemical components in an ecosystem |
| abiotic factors | physical and chemical components of ecosystems |
| autotroph | organisms that produce their own organic material from inorganic constituents. |
| biomass pyramid | shape of biomass potential at each trophic level. |
| biomass | total combined dry weight of all organisms at a trophic level. |
| biome | grouping of related ecosystems into major kinds of ecosystems. |
| biosphere | all the species and ecosystems combined |
| biota | grouping or assemblage of living organisms in an ecosystem. |
| biotic community | grouping or assemblage of living organisms in an ecosystem. |
| biotic factors | limiting factors caused by other species. |
| biotic structure | the way different categories of organisms fit together in an ecosystem. |
| carnivore | meat-eating secondary consumer. |
| chlorophyll | molecule that plants use to capture light energy for photosynthesis. |
| climate | description of average temperature and precipitation each day throughout the year. |
| consumer | organisms that must feed on complex organic material to obtain energy and nutrients. |
| decomposer | primary detritus feeders |
| detritus | dead or partly digested plant or animal material. |
| ecologist | people who study ecosystems and interaction. |
| ecology | study of ecosystems and interactions. |
| ecosystem | a group of plants, animals, and microbes interacting with each other and their environment in such a way to prepetuate the grouping. |
| ecotone | the transitional area where one ecosystem blends into another. |
| food chain | pathways where one organism is eaten by a second, which is eaten by a third, and so on. |
| food web | a way of demonstrating the interrelatedness of food chains. |
| habitat | plant community and physical environment where an organism lives. |
| herbivore | feed directly on producers |
| heterotroph | organisms that must feed on complex organic material to obtain energy and nutrients. |
| host | plant or animal fed upon by a parasite |
| inorganic molecule | constructed in large part from elements other then carbon and hydrogen. |
| limiting factors | any factor that limits growth, reproduction, and survival of organisms. |
| limits of tolerance | high and low ranges of tolerance. |
| microclimate | conditions in specific local areas |
| mutualism | a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both derive benefit |
| niche | what an organism feeds on, where and when it feeds, where it finds shelterand nesting sites. |
| omnivore | plant and meat-eating consumer. |
| optimum | a certain abiotic level where organisms survive best. |
| organic molecule | constructed in large part from carbon and hydrogen atoms. |
| parasites | a predator thst feeds off its prey for a long time typically without killing it. |
| parasitism | a symbiotic relationship between organisms in which one benefits and the other is harmed. |
| photosynthesis | the process of converting sunlight energy and CO2 to sugar and O2 |
| population | number of individuals that make up an interbreeding, reproducing group within a given area. |
| predator | animal that attacks, kills, and feeds on another animal. |
| prey | animal killed and eaten by a predator |
| primary consumer | feed directly on producers. |
| producers | organisms that produce their own organic material from inorganic constituents. |
| range of tolerance | the entire span of abiotic values that allow any growth at all. |
| secondary consumer | feed on primary consumers |
| species | specific kinds of plants, animals, or microbes that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. |
| symbiotic | living together |
| synergistic effect | greater effect of two factors interacting together than individually. |
| trophic levels | feeding levels within a food chain or web |
| zone of stress | abiotic level between optimal range and high and low level of tolerance. |
| detritus feeders | organisms that feed prmarily on dead, decaying, or partially digested organic matter. |
