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Biotic
The living parts of an ecosystem
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Abiotic
The non-living parts of an ecosystem
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Lithosphere
The hard part of Earth's surface.
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Hydrosphere
- All the water found on Earth.
- Including; Lakes, oceans, and ground water.
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Atmosphere
Layer of gases above Earth's surface
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Biosphere
The regions of Earth where living organisms exist
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Nutrients
A chemical that is essential to living thinkgs and is cycled through ecosytems
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Eutrophication
A process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, leading to an increase in the populations of primary producers
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Photosynthesis
A process that changes solar energy into chemical energy
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Trophic level
A category of organisms that is defined by how the organisms gain their energy
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Biomass
The total mass of living organisms in a defined group or area
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Tropic efficiency
The measure of the amount of energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level
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Bioaccumulation
A process in which an organism ingests material, especially toxins, faster than it eliminates them
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Biomagnification
A process in which the concentration of ingested toxins increases as it moves from one trophic level to the next
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Cellular respiration
A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the presence of oxygen
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Fermentation
A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the absence of oxygen
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Greenhouse gases
An atmospheric gas that prevents heat from leaving the atomsphere, thus increasing the temperature of the atmosphere
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Greenhouse effect
The warming of the Earth as a result of greenhouse gases, which trap some of the energy that would otherwise leave Earth
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Acid precipitation
Rain, snow, or fog that is unnaturally acidic [pH less than 5.6] due to gases in the atmosphere that react with water to form acid
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