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Key Terms
Photosynthesis is the process through which plants, algae, and some bacteria utilize
sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create carbohydrates and oxygen.
A producer is defined as an organism capable of generating organic molecules from
inorganic sources, including photosynthetic or chemosynthetic autotrophs that form the
basic food sources within ecosystems.
A consumer refers to an organism that consumes other organisms or organic matter for
nutrients, as opposed to producing its own nutrients or obtaining them from inorganic
materials.
Decomposers feed by breaking down organic matter from dead organisms; examples of
decomposers include bacteria and fungi, which play a crucial role in nutrient cycling.
Cellular respiration is the process wherein cells generate energy from carbohydrates, as
atmospheric oxygen reacts with glucose to produce water and carbon dioxide.
Energy Transfer and Ecosystem Dynamics
The food chain illustrates the pathway of energy transfer through various stages,
emphasizing the feeding patterns of different organisms.
A food web is a diagram that depicts the complex feeding relationships among organisms
within an ecosystem, highlighting the interconnectedness of various food chains.
Trophic levels refer to the various steps within a food chain or food pyramid, which include
producers as well as primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers.
Biogeochemical Cycles
The carbon cycle describes the movement of carbon from nonliving sources in the
environment, such as oceans, fossil fuels, and the atmosphere, into living organisms, such
as plants and animals, and subsequently back into the environment.
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are specific bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into
ammonia, a form that plants can utilize.
The nitrogen cycle outlines the circulation of nitrogen among air, soil, water, plants, and
animals within an ecosystem, illustrating its importance in biological processes.
The phosphorus cycle involves the cyclical movement of phosphorus in various chemical
forms from environmental sources like rock and soil to living organisms, and back to the
environment.
Ecological Succession
Ecological succession refers to a gradual process of change and replacement within a
community over time.
Primary succession occurs in previously uninhabited areas that did not support life,
marking the start of ecological development.
Secondary succession describes the process through which one community replaces
another that has been partially or entirely destroyed, facilitating recovery and regeneration.
Pioneer species are the initial organisms that colonize uninhabited areas, initiating an
ecological cycle that allows for the establishment of additional species.
A climax community represents a stable and final community that achieves equilibrium
with its environment, indicating a peak in ecological succession.
