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The cycle of evaporation and condensation that controls the distribution of the earth's water as it evaporates from bodies of water, condenses, precipitates, and returns to those bodies of water.
The Water Cycle
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When this is compounded, dissolved in rain, and depostited in the soil, where it is assimilated and metabolized by bacteria and plants, then returning to the atmosphere by bacterial decomposition of organic matter.
Nitrogen Cycle
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The combined process, including photosythesis, decomposition, and respiration.
Carbon Cycle
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A cycle by which these atoms are circulated through living organisms through erosion, absortion, and decompostion.
Phosphorous Cycle
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The branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
Ecology
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An ecological community together with its environment, functioning as a unit. EX: rainforest, tundra, dessert.
Ecosystem
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The ecosystem comprising the entire earth and the living organisms that inhabit it.
Biosphere
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Process of ecosystems gradually changing from simple to complex environments
Succession
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The one factor in an ecosystem that limits its growth
Limiting Factors
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The Maximum number of individuals in a population an ecosystem can support
Carrying capacity
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Role an organism takes in an ecosystem based on how it gets its food
Niche/Trophic level
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organisms that break down other organisms for energy and recycle that material in the dead organisms back into the ecosystem.
Decomposers
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Organisms that produce all of the energy for the ecosystem usually bt doing photosynthesis (some do chemosynthesis)
Producers
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One species hunts, one species is hunted; constantly evolve adaptions to survive
Predator/Prey
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relationship when 2 species live in direct contact with eachother and depend on eachother; one species lives in or on the other species.
Symbiosis
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Both species benefit from the relationship
Mutualism
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One species benefits and the other is unaffected by the relationship
Commensalism
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One species benefits and the other is harmed by the relationship
Parasitism
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When 2 species evolve adaptations in order to maintain their relationship due to constant contact
Coevolution
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Illustration of the feeding relationships between the organisms in an ecosystem
Food web
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autotrophs that predominately eat producers
First order consumers/herbivores
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Heterotrophs that predominately eat first order consumers
Second order consumers/ carnivors
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Heterotrophs that predominately eat producers, first and second order consumers
Third order consumers/omnivores
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Large heterotrophs that are capable of eating third order consumers
Fourth order consumers
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