| Term | Definition |
|---|
| photosynthesis | synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants) |
| producer | something that produces |
| consumer | an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms |
| decomposer | organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter |
| cellular respiration | the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic moelcules |
| food chain | (ecology) a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member |
| food web | (ecology) a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains |
| trophic level | each step in a food chain or food web |
| carbon cycle | the organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again |
| nitrogen fixing bacteria | Bacteria that can use nitrogen in soil to make nitrogen compounds |
| nitrogen cycle | the circulation of nitrogen |
| phosphorus cycle | The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks. |
| primary succession | succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists |
| pioneer species | first species to populate an area during primary succession |
| climax community | Last community in a succession |
Combine with other sets
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