Earth's Spheres
All ecosystems on Earth put together. Includes all interactions of living organisms in the other 3 spheres.
Biosphere
all living parts of an ecosystem (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi)
Biotic Factors
consumers that eat only plants (ex: deer)
Herbivores
limiting factors related to the density/how many of a population of organisms is in a given area (ex: food supply)
Density Dependent Factors
process in which plants use sunlight to make their own food from carbon dioxide and water
Photosynthesis
All the water on Earth combined. Includes water on the Earth's surface, under the surface, and above the surface (like clouds)
Hydrosphere
all non-living parts of an ecosystem (sun, temperature, water, soil)
Abiotic Factors
consumers that eat only meat/other animals (ex: lions)
Carnivores
limiting factors NOT related to the density/how many of a population of organisms is in an ecosystem (ex: change in temperature)
Density Independent Factors
process in which organisms use oxygen to break down food molecules and get chemical energy for cell functions (the opposite of photosynthesis)
Cellular Respiration
layers of different gases that surround Earth being held near the surface by gravity. It provides protection for life by absorbing UV solar radiation from the Sun and warming the surface of Earth.
Atmosphere
organisms that eat plants to use energy stored in plants to keep themselves alive (mainly animals)
Consumers
consumers that eat both plants and meat (ex: humans)
Omnivores
The limit the ecosystem can handle of any species
Carrying Capacity
The position or level an organism is in on a food web of an ecosystem
Trophic Level
hard and brittle shell of the Earth which consists of the crust and upper mantle. It comes in two varieties: oceanic and continental.
Lithosphere
organisms that capture energy from the sun to produce their own food (mainly plants and algae)
Producers
an organism that is NOT native to an environment and over populates in the absence of natural predators causing severe damage to the ecosystem
Invasive Species
number of times the species produce offspring per year
Procreation
Organisms (herbivores) that obtain nutrients and energy from eating organic material made by producers (ex: cows, rabbits, insects, birds, bacteria)
Primary Consumers
moving part of earth’s the upper mantle found below the lithosphere. It is weaker, hotter and softer than the lithosphere.
Asthenosphere
organisms that consume and transform both plant and animal detritus (dead matter) into nutrients (mainly fungi and bacteria)
Decomposers
A graphical representation of what-eats-what in an ecosystem. Shows the connection of food chains.
Food Web
how many offspring are likely to reach age of reproduction
Capacity for Survival
Organisms (carnivores) that obtain nutrients and energy from eating primary consumers (humans, lions, frogs, etc.)
Secondary Consumers