Vocab
Biomass
The total mass of living biological organisms in a given area, ecosystem, or trophic level at a given time?
Organisms that capture energy from nonliving sources and convert it to useful forms are called
Autotrophs or producers
Energy that is "lost" or does not go to the next trophic level becomes this.
Heat
The six most common elements in living organisms
CHNOPS- Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
Buried carbon from animal and plant remains after a long time has passed.
Fossil fuel
Phytoplankton
Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean
The part of a plant used for photosynthesis.
Chloroplast
The average amount of energy that is transfered from one trophic level to the next.
10%
The common limiting nutrients in CHNOPS
Phosphorus and nitrogen
A chemical and physical process that is able to fix nitrogen.
Lightning.
Detritus
Material made up of decaying bits of plant and animal material.
The category of consumers that includes things like shrimp, snails, and crabs.
Detritivores
This process converts light energy into chemical energy.
Photosynthesis
Organisms capable of fixing nitrogen
Bacteria
Organisms that capture energy from living sources and convert it to useful forms are called this.
Heterotrophs or consumers
Nitrogen fixation
a chemical process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
An organism that chemically breaks down organic matter.
Decomposer
The trophic level on the ecological pyramid of an animal that consumes a rabbit.
Secondary consumer
Returning nitrogen to the atmosphere via bacteria.
Denitrification
When a chemical, like nitrogen or phosphorus, is not present in enough quantities to support the growth of a species or community
Nutrient limitation
Eutrophication
A general term describing a process in which nutrients accumulate in a body of water, resulting in an increased growth of microorganisms that may deplete the water of oxygen.
A chemical compound that some chemosynthetic organisms can convert into carbohydrates.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
A more accurate model of what occurs inside an ecosystem involving feeding relations.
A food web
This nutrient cycle does not cycle through the atmosphere
The phosphorus cycle
Your favorite class
Biology with Mr. Stephen