Glossary
Adaptation
A heritable trait or characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.
Example:
The long neck of a giraffe is an adaptation that allows it to reach leaves high in trees.
Aquatic Biomes
Major water-based ecosystems, categorized by factors like salinity, depth, and water flow, including oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Example:
Coral reefs, teeming with marine life, are vibrant examples of a highly biodiverse aquatic biome.
Biomass
The total mass of living organisms, including plants and animals, within a specific area or ecosystem at a given time.
Example:
A dense forest typically has a much higher biomass of plant material compared to a desert.
Biomes
Large-scale ecosystems characterized by their distinct climate patterns and the specific types of organisms that inhabit them.
Example:
The Amazon rainforest is a prime example of a tropical rainforest biome, defined by its high rainfall and warm temperatures.
Carbon Cycle
The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms, crucial for life and climate regulation.
Example:
Photosynthesis by plants removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, playing a vital role in the carbon cycle.
Climate
The long-term average weather patterns in a region, primarily determined by temperature and precipitation, which are key factors in defining biomes.
Example:
The polar bear's thick fur is an adaptation to the extremely cold climate of the Arctic.
Closed System
A system where matter is conserved and recycled within its boundaries, meaning no new matter enters and no existing matter leaves.
Example:
Earth is considered a closed system for matter, as elements like carbon and nitrogen are continuously cycled rather than being lost to space.
Commensalism
A type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits, and the other species is neither helped nor harmed.
Example:
Barnacles attaching to a whale benefit from transport and access to food, while the whale is largely unaffected, illustrating commensalism.
Consumers
Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms or organic matter, categorized as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
Example:
A rabbit eating grass is a primary consumer, while a fox eating the rabbit is a secondary consumer.
Decomposers
Organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic matter and waste products, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.
Example:
Mushrooms growing on a fallen log are decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Ecosystems
Dynamic communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living physical environment.
Example:
A pond, with its fish, insects, plants, and water, forms a complete ecosystem.
Evolution
The process by which populations of organisms change over successive generations through genetic variation and natural selection.
Example:
The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a rapid example of evolution driven by selective pressures.
Hydrologic Cycle (Water Cycle)
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth, involving processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Example:
Rainfall replenishes freshwater sources, demonstrating a crucial part of the hydrologic cycle.
Mutualism
A type of symbiotic relationship where both interacting species benefit from the association.
Example:
Bees pollinating flowers is a classic example of mutualism, as the bees get nectar and the flowers are fertilized.
Nitrogen Cycle
The biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformation and movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms, essential for protein synthesis.
Example:
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants, a key step in the nitrogen cycle.
Parasitism
A type of symbiotic relationship where one species (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another species (the host), which is harmed.
Example:
A tapeworm living in the intestines of an animal is an example of parasitism, as the tapeworm absorbs nutrients from its host.
Phosphorus Cycle
The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, vital for DNA and energy transfer.
Example:
The weathering of rocks releases phosphates into the soil, making them available for plant uptake in the phosphorus cycle.
Predator-Prey
An interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts, kills, and consumes another organism (the prey) for food.
Example:
A hawk swooping down to catch a mouse demonstrates a classic predator-prey relationship.
Producers
Organisms, primarily plants and algae, that create their own food through photosynthesis, forming the base of most food chains.
Example:
Sunflowers are producers because they convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
Terrestrial Biomes
Major land-based ecosystems, distinguished by their dominant plant life and climate, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts.
Example:
The vast savannas of Africa, home to diverse grazing animals, represent a significant terrestrial biome.
Trophic Levels
The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, representing the position an organism occupies in a food chain based on its primary source of energy.
Example:
In a grassland, grass occupies the first trophic level, while a deer grazing on it is at the second.