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ecosytems (Abiotic
Describes the non-living parts of an ecosystem, Alga,…
ecosytems (
Abiotic
Describes the non-living parts of an ecosystem,
Alga, algae (plural)
A single or multicellular organism that has no roots, stems or leaves and is often found in water. ,
Aquatic ecosystem
A water-based ecosystem,
Arthropod
An invertebrate animal of the large phylum Arthropoda, such as an insect, spider, or crustacean. They are characterised by jointed limbs, segmented body and an exoskeleton made of the chemical chitin.,
Arid
Region characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life.,
Bacterium, bacteria (plural)
Microscopic single-celled organism that has no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles.,
Balance point (of a system)
Point in which a system is said to be in balance or at a steady state,
Behaviour
The action or reaction of something (e.g. an organism, under specified circumstances).,
Bio-accumulation
The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Also called biomagnification.,
Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.,
Algal bloom
The sudden increase in the number of algae in a water way. Algal blooms can release toxins that can cause sickness if consumed.,
Bio-indicator species
Any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment (e.g. a species may indicate an environmental condition such as pollution). Indicator species can be among the most sensitive species in a region, and sometimes act as an early warning to monitoring biologists.,
Biological control
Control of a pest by the introduction of a natural enemy or predator.,
Biotic
Describes the living parts of an ecosystem.,
Carbon cycle
The continual exchange and movement of carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, land and living organisms.,
Carnivore
An animal that eats other animals.,
Chemosynthetic bacteria
Bacteria that uses chemicals to make food.,
Community of organisms
Group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified location (habitat),
Competition
The process where living things compete for the same resources in the environment,
Consumer
An organism that relies entirely on other organisms for its food.,
Contamination
The introduction of harmful pollutants or chemicals into a natural environment.,
Cyanobacteria
Blue-green bacteria also called blue-green algae.,
Dead zone
Area of water in oceans or large lakes where the oxygen concentration is so low that little or no aquatic life can survive.,
Decomposer
Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down the matter of dead organisms so it can be returned to the soil, air and water.,
Denitrifying bacteria
Bacteria in the soil that break down nitrates into nitrogen gas that is released into the atmosphere.,
Desert
Landscape or region with extremely low rainfall, less than enough to support the growth of most plants .,
Disease
Abnormal condition negatively affecting the body of an organism.,
Dynamic balance (in a system)
Situation of continual fluctuations around a balance point in a system.,
Ecosystem
All interrelated living and non-living components and the physical conditions of a place.,
Endangered
A species is endangered when a very small population is left alive. There is a risk the species will become extinct.,
Endotherm
Organisms whose body temperature is largely generated from internal heat sources (e.g. via a high metabolism).,
Ectotherm
Organisms whose body temperature is mainly dependent on external environmental heat sources (e.g. sunlight or a heated rock surface).,
Endocrine system
Body system made up of a series of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones into the blood in response to changes in the body.,
Environment
Surroundings and/or conditions of a place.,
Eutrophication
Excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by run-off of nutrients (animal waste, fertilisers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life. The subsequent decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, which leads to the death of animal life.,
Exoskeleton
Rigid external covering of the body in some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods, providing both support and protection.,
Exponential growth
Where a population grows at an ever-increasing rate because there are no constraints.,
Feedback mechanisms (in a system)
Processes that occur to provide feedback to a system.,
Feral
An organism that has escaped from being domesticated and has returned, partly or wholly, to a wild state.,
Food chain
One pathway, beginning with a producer, that shows the flow of energy through part of an ecosystem.,
Food web
Complex network of feeding relationships among species in an ecosystem.,
Habitat
The specific features of the environment in which a plant or animal lives.,
Herbivore
Animal that feeds on plants.,
Homeostasis
Ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable state.,
Homeotherm
Organism capable of maintaining a constant body temperature under most circumstances. Mammals are homeotherms.,
Host
Organism affected by a parasite. The host supplies something the parasite needs.,
Hydrothermal vent
Opening in the sea floor out of which heated mineral-rich water flows.,
Input (to a system)
Something put into a system.,
Leguminous plants
In the pea or bean family. Some of the more common legumes are beans, lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans.,
Leguminous plants
In the pea or bean family. Some of the more common legumes are beans, lentils, peanuts, peas and soybeans.,
Limiting factor
Characteristics of an environment that stabilise population size and determine how large a population can grow.,
Macro-invertebrates
Animal without a backbone (e.g. worm, insect) that is visible to the naked eye.,
Marine ecosystem
Ecosystems in the oceans and seas.,
Micro-organism or microbes
Organisms too small to be seen with the human eye, only observed through a microscope (e.g. bacteria, fungi and yeasts).,
Mould
Type of fungus.,
Native
To 'belong naturally' or 'be original' to a place (e.g. native plants and animal).,
Negative feedback
Triggering mechanisms that reduce stimulus in order to return a system back to its set or balance point. If the stimulus is that the body is too hot, then negative feedback triggers mechanisms (e.g. sweating) to reduce heat.,
Niche
Position or role taken by a particular organism within its community.,
Nitrate
Substance containing nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrates can contribute to algal blooms in water ways.,
Nitrogen
Element required by all living things, found in air, water and soil.,
Nitrogen cycle
The continual exchange and movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, oceans, land and living organisms.,
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Bacteria found in the soil or on the root nodules of some plants (legumes) that can convert nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds.,
NPK
Abbreviation for the three main nutrients identified as essential for plants: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Often found in fertilisers.,
NPK
Abbreviation for the three main nutrients identified as essential for plants: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Often found in fertilisers.,
Omnivore
Animal that eats plants and other animals.,
Output (from a system)
Something that is produced by a system.,
Organic matter
Substance or material that comes from living organisms.,
Organism
A living thing. Includes plants, animals, fungi and microscopic life forms.,
Parasite
Organism that lives in or on another organism. The parasite benefits while, usually, harming the host organism.,
PH
A measure of how basic or acidic a substance is.,
Phosphates
Compound containing phosphorous and oxygen. It is an essential element to life and a major plant nutrient.,
Phosphorus
Element needed by living things, also found in fertilisers and detergents.,
Photosynthesis
Chemical reaction that occurs in plants to convert sunlight into stored chemical energy in the form of glucose.,
Phytoplankton
Small, usually microscopic plants (such as algae), found in lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water.,
Plant hormone
Chemicals produced by plants that control and regulate such things as growth and development. Plant hormones include auxins, gibberellins, cytokines, ethylene and abscisic acid.)