Ecosystem Vocabulary
This term describes living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.
Biotic
This type of growth happens when resources are unlimited and population size increases rapidly.
Exponential Growth
This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
Troposphere
This biome is characterized by very low rainfall and extreme temperatures.
Desert
This Earth system includes all of Earth’s water.
Hydrosphere
Nonliving parts of an ecosystem like water, temperature, and sunlight are called this.
Abiotic
This type of population growth slows as it approaches carrying capacity.
Logistic Growth
This layer contains the ozone layer.
Stratosphere
This biome has warm temperatures, heavy rainfall, and high biodiversity.
Rainforest
Rain carrying soil into rivers shows an interaction between the geosphere and this system.
Hydrosphere
This term refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem.
Biodiversity
This type of succession occurs after a disturbance where soil is already present.
Secondary Succession
This layer is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
Mesosphere
This biome is cold, treeless, and has permanently frozen soil called permafrost.
Tundra
This gas needs to be converted by bacteria in the soil before it can be used by our bodies.
Nitrogen
This describes the role or job a species has in its ecosystem.
Niche
This type of succession begins in an area where no soil exists, such as bare rock.
Primary Succession
This is the most plentiful gas in the earth's air.
Nitrogen
This biome is dominated by grasses and supports large grazing animals.
Grasslands
This layer of the atmosphere protects life by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone Layer
This is the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support over time.
Carrying Capacity
If a population grows beyond carrying capacity, these outcomes may occur.
Resource depletion, increased competition, disease, or population decline
This effect causes winds and storms like hurricanes to curve due to Earth’s rotation.
The Coriolis Effect
Which biome would a desert most likely change to if long-term rainfall increased significantly?
Grassland
If the ozone layer disappeared, this would likely happen to ecosystems.
Increased UV radiation causing harm to plants, animals, and food chains.