Glossary Terms Chapter 1

all the interacting parts of a biological community and its enviroment

an ecosystem that is capable of withstanding pressure and giving support to a variety of organisms

the living parts of an ecosystem

the non-living parts of an ecosystem

the hard part of earth's surface

all the water found on earth including,lakes,oceans, and ground water

the layer of gases above earth's surface

the regions of earth where living organisms exist

a chemical that is essential to all living things and is cycled through ecosystems

a process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, leading to an increase in the population of primary producers

a process that changes solar energy into chemical energy

a category of organisms that is defined by how many organisms gain their energy

the total mass of living organisms in a defined group or area

a measure of the amount of energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level

a process which an organism ingests materials, especially toxins, faster than it eliminates them

a process in which the concentration of ingested toxins increases as it moves from one trophic level to the next

a process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the presence of oxygen

a process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the absence of oxygen

an atmospheric gas that prevents heat from leaving the atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature of the atmosphere

the warming of the earth as a result of greenhouse gases, which trap some of the energy that would otherwise leave earth

rain,snow,or fog that is unnaturally acidic due to gases in the atmosphere that react with water to from acids