Detrivores- an animal which feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus.
Herbivore- an animal that feeds on plants. Carnivore- an animal that feeds on flesh. Omnivore- an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin. Autotroph- an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. Trophic levels- each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy. Food Chain- a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food. Climate- the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period. Climate Zones(polar, temperate, tropical) Niche- a position or role taken by a kind of organism within its community. Such a position may be occupied by different organisms in different localities Habitat- the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism. Predation- the preying of one animal on others. |
Ecosystem- a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Individual- a single living organism Population- a group of homogeneous individual (species) that live in the same habitat (area). Community- populations of different species interacting with each other Biome- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biosphere- where all of life exists in the world (11 Km below Earths surface to 8 Km above the surface) Competition- when individuals use the same resources resulting in lower fitness for both (-/-). Consumption- when one organism eats or absorbs nutrients from another, increasing the consumer’s fitness but decreasing the victim’s fitness (+/-). (predation, herbivory, parasitism) Mutualism- when two species interact in a way that confers fitness benefits to both (+/+). Commensalism- when one species benefits but the other species Abiotic- physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms. Biotic- relating to or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations. Symbiosis- interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. |
Photosynthesis is written as follows:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O Carbon+Water+Sunlight→Glucose+Oxygen+Water Here, six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) combine with 6 molecules of water (H2O) using light energy. The end result is the formation of a single carbohydrate molecule (C6H12O6, or glucose) along with six molecules each of breathable oxygen and water. |
Cellular respiration is written as follows:
C6H12O6+6O2+6H2O→6CO2 + 6H2O+ATP Glucose+Oxygen+Water→Carbon+Water+ATP(energy) Here, the molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) break apart using ATP(energy), oxygen(O2), Water(H2O). The end result is the formation of a multiple byproducts including Carbon(CO2), water(H2O), and ATP(energy). |
Nitrogen Cycle |
Water Cycle |
Carbon Cycle |
The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and decomposition.
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The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.
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The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.
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