1.
algal bloom: an immediate increase in the amount of algae and other producers that results from a large input of limiting nutrient
2.
autotrophs: organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer
3.
biogeochemical cycles: process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another
4.
biome: group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities
5.
biosphere: part of earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere
6.
carnivores: organism that obtains energy by eating animals
7.
chemosynthesis: process by which some organisms such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
8.
community: assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area
9.
decomposers: organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter
10.
denitrification: conversion of of nitrates into nitrogen gas
11.
detritivores: organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter
12.
ecology: scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
13.
ecosystem: collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment
14.
evaporation: process by which water changes from a liquid into an atmospheric gas
15.
food chain: series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
16.
food web: network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in a n ecosystem
17.
herbivores: organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
18.
heterotrophs: organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer
19.
limiting nutrient: single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem
20.
nitrogen fixation: process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
21.
nutrient: chemical substance that an organism requires to live
22.
omnivores: organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
23.
photosynthesis: process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches
24.
population: group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
25.
resource: any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space
26.
species: group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
27.
transpiration: loss of water from a plant through its leaves
28.
trophic level: step in a food chain or food web
