Biology terms
All life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water and the atmosphere
Biosphere
All organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment.
Ecosystem
the first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms.
Primary producers
organisms that kill and eat other animals
Carnivores
a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.
Food chain
The scientific study of interaction among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment
Ecology
A group of ecosystems that share similar climate and typical organisms.
Biome
the process of capturing light energy and using it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.
Photosynthesis
organisms that obtain energy and nutrients by eating plant leaves, roots, seeds, or fruits
Herbivores
a network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.
Food web
a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Species
Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact, including animals, plants, mushrooms, and bacteria.
Biotic factor
process by which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates.
Chemosynthesis
animals whose diets naturally include a variety of different foods that usually include both plants and animals
Omnivores
Each step in a food chain or food web.
Trophic level
a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.
Population
Any nonliving part of the environment, such as sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, wind or water currents, soil type, and so on.
Abiotic factor
organisms that must acquire energy from other organisms-by ingesting them in one way or another.
Heterotrophs
organism that “feed” by chemically breaking down organic matter
Decomposers
show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each tropic level in a given food chain or food web.
Ecological pyramids
An assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area.
Community
are organisms that use solar or chemical energy to produce “food” by assembling inorganic compounds into complex organic molecules.
Autotrophs
organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients.
Consumers
Organisms that feed on detritus particles, often chewing or grinding them into even smaller pieces.
Detritivores
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.
Biomass