| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Abiotic Factors | The non-living, physical aspects of an ecosystem such as air, water, soil, heat, and light. |
| Aerobic Respiration | Energy releasing biochemical reactions that use oxygen. |
| Air | A mixture of gases; mostly nitrogen and oxygen. |
| Anaerobic Respiration | Energy releasing biochemical reactions that do not need oxygen to occur. |
| Atom | A tiny particle of matter. |
| Biotic Factors | The living things in an ecosystem. |
| Carbohydrates | Chemical compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates store energy in their chemical bonds. |
| Carbon Cycle | The movement of carbon atoms through an ecosystem between living organisms as well as the non-living part of the environment. |
| Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen Cycle | The recycling of carbon dioxide and oxygen between organisms and the air. |
| Carbon Dioxide | A chemical compound made from one atom of the element carbon and two atoms of the element oxygen. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO2. |
| Cellular Respiration | The process of releasing energy stored in carbohydrates. Respiration produces carbon dioxide and water. Respiration usually requires oxygen in which case it is usually called aerobic respiration or aerobic cellular respiration. |
| Chemical Compound | A molecule composed of atoms of two or more different elements. |
| Condensation | The formation of snow or rain from water vapor. |
| Decomposers | Organisms such as fungi and bacteria a that break down the complex chemical compounds by living things into simple nutrients that are used by food producers. |
| Dentrification | The process by which bacteria cause nitrogen gas to be released back into the environment. |
| Ecology | The study of the relationships and interactions of living things with one another and with their physical environment. |
| Ecosystem | All the interactions and relationships of organisms with one another and with their physical environment within a certain area. |
| Element of Matter | A basic type of matter, such as the elements carbon, sulfur, iron, and oxygen. Every element has a different atomic structure. |
| Energy | The ability to do work. |
| Extinction | The complete destruction of all the members of an ecological population. |
| Food Chains | Energy links between different organisms in an ecosystem based on feeding habits. |
| Food Producers | Organisms such as plants and algae that create energy-rich food through the process of photosynthesis. |
| Habitat | The place in which an organism lives. |
| Helium | Trace element in air. |
| Humus | Soil material created by decay of organic material such as dead leaves. |
| Krypton | A type of gas in the air. |
| Legumes | Plants of the pea family that have nitrogen fixing bacteria living in their roots. |
| Lichens | Organisms usually composed of both fungi and algae cells living together symbiotically that erode rock into soil. |
| Matter | The material of the universe: those things that occupy space and have weight. |
| Nitrogen | An element needed in both DNA and protein molecules. |
| Nitrogen Cycle | The recycling of nitrogen between living organisms and the air and soil. |
| Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria | Bacteria that can convert nitrogen gas from the air into useable compounds. |
| Nutrient | A simple chemical substance used to nourish living things; the useable part of food. |
| Ozone | A molecule made from three atoms of oxygen. |
| Photosynthesis | A chemical reaction in which carbon dioxide and water are combined in the presence of chlorophyll and sunlight to form energy-rich sugar. |
| Population | A group of organisms of the same species living in the same ecosystem. |
| Solvent | A liquid capable of dissolving other substances. |
| Species | Very similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. |
| Transpiration | The natural loss of water from plants. |
| Water Cycle | The natural cycle of water purification. |
| Xenon | A gas substance in the air. |
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