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Ecosystem (Abiotic
Describes the non-living parts of an ecosystem, Alga,…
Ecosystem (Abiotic
Describes the non-living parts of an ecosystem, Alga, algae
A single or multicellular organism that has no roots, stems or leaves and is often found in water., 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., 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
Microscopic single-celled organism that has no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles., Balance point
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., 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 growth of most plants, Disease
Abnormal condition negatively affecting the body of an organism., Dynamic balance
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
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 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., Limiting factor
Characteristics of an environment that stabilise population size and determine
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 orbalance 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.)