Earth's Spheres
Layers of air that surround the planet.
What is atmosphere?
A community of different organisms and species that interact with the biotic and abiotic components within the environment.
What is an ecosystem?
A large region with a distinct climate and specific life-forms.
What is a biome?
This trophic level consists of organisms such as plants and algae. They convert sunlight into usable energy and are the foundation of most food webs.
What are producers?
This process, performed only by autotrophs (like plants and phytoplankton) produces a significant amount of oxygen. Without it, it's estimated that respiration would deplete all non-atmospheric oxygen within 50 years.
What is photosynthesis?
Earth's liquid water, water vapor, and frozen areas of water.
What is the hydrosphere?
Sustained interactions between two species that affects at least one of them.
What is a symbiotic relationship (or symbiosis)?
A factor that affects the plant and animal species that are able to thrive in a biome. Biomes are often categorized based on the amount they receive annually.
What is precipitation (rain, snow, etc.)?
Organisms on this trophic level eat plants and are herbivores. They are crucial for transferring energy to the next level, the secondary consumers.
What is a primary consumer?
This cycle is based on atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. Humans input extra _______ through burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
What is carbon?
Earth's molten and solid rocks, minerals, soil, etc.
What is the geosphere?
A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other organism is harmed.
What is parasitism?
Biome that receives the lowest amount of rainfall annually and has harsh temperatures.
What is a desert?
Organisms on this trophic level are either carnivores or omnivores. They eat primary consumers (herbivores) to obtain energy.
What are secondary consumers?
This element is mostly found in rocks and sediments. It is a major component in nucleic acids and other biological molecules. It can be released through weathering and erosion.
What is phosphorus?
All living things and their interactions.
What is the biosphere?
A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.
What is mutualism?
Biome with the most annual precipitation that is consistently warm and humid, with the most biodiversity.
What is a tropical rainforest?
These organisms, like isopods, earthworms, and springtails, break down dead organic matter such as dead organisms and other waste.
What are decomposers or detritivores?
All life depends on this substance. It is contained in the hydrosphere.
What is water (H2O)?
A volcanic eruption sends ash into the air, which later settles into the ocean and affects marine life. Which spheres are interacting in this event?
All four spheres (biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere).
The study of how organisms interact with the components in their ecosystem.
What is ecology?
Biome that is cold year-round and does not support much life; it does not receive a lot of precipitation.
What is a tundra?
As you move up in trophic levels, 10% of this is passed on to the next level, represented by arrows.
What is energy?
About 79% of the atmosphere is made up of this element. It cycles through the environment, from the air to the soil and living things, and back again.
What is nitrogen?