Chapter 1

all of the interacting components of a biological community and its surrounding environment

an ecosystem that is stable enough to withstand pressure (e.g. cold winter temperatures) and give support to various organisms

the living parts of an ecosystem (e.g. plants, fungi)

the non-living parts of an ecosystem (e.g. water, soil, light)

the hard part of Earth's surface (e.g. rock)

all of the water found on Earth (i.e. lakes, oceans, and ground water)

the layer of gases above Earth's surface (e.g. oxygen)

the areas of Earth where living organisms exist (i.e. in other spheres)

a chemical that is necessary for living things to survive, and is cycled through ecosystems (e.g. phosphorus)

a process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, causing a significant increase in the population of primary producers

a process plants manage that changes solar energy into chemical energy, which can then be used by organisms

a category of organisms that is grouped by the method they use to obtain their energy (e.g secondary consumers)

the total mass of all living organisms in a distinct group or area

a measure of the amount of energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the trophic level one place higher than the previous

a process in which materials, especially toxins, are ingested by an organism in amounts greater than can be eradicated

the increase in the concentration of a toxin as it is moved from one trophic level to the next

a process that releases the energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in an aerobic environment

a process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in an anaerobic environment

atmospheric gases that prevent heat from leaving the atmosphere, which causes the temperature of the atmosphere to increase (e.g. carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane)

the result of greenhouse gases, which trap some energy that would otherwise leave Earth

rain, snow, or fog, that is unusually acidic because of protons from gases in the atmosphere that react with water to form acids