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Ecology
the study of all processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms and the interactions between living things and their environment TERM 2
Species
DEFINITION 2 all members that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. They are all individuals that are like one another and that are distinct from other such groups. TERM 3
Population
DEFINITION 3 a certain number ofindividualsthat make up theinterbreeding, reproducing group in a species in a certain area. TERM 4
Biota(Biotic Community)
DEFINITION 4 The grouping of populations in a natural area (a pond, forest). This includes everything from trees to mammals to fungi. TERM 5
Abiotic
DEFINITION 5 a non living factor such as temperature or weather or water salinity
Ecosystem
Interactive complex of communities and the abiotic environment affecting them within a particular area. TERM 7
Ecotone
DEFINITION 7 transitional region between ecosystems that creates a unique habitat for specialized species and also many species common to two separate ecosystems TERM 8
Landscape
DEFINITION 8 Cluster of interacting ecosystems TERM 9
Biome
DEFINITION 9 large areas of the earth's surface with the same climate and vegetation. For example, grasslands, deserts, tropicalrain forests TERM 10
Biosphere
DEFINITION 10 the global sum of all ecosystems
Four Spheres
Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere TERM 17
Atmosphere
DEFINITION 17 thin layer of gases separating Earth from outer space. This includes O2, N2, and CO2 along with water vapor and traces of various other gases. TERM 18
Hydrosphere
DEFINITION 18 water in all of its liquid and solid compartments TERM 19
Lithosphere
DEFINITION 19 Earth's crust, made up of rocks and minerals TERM 20
Law of Conservation of Energy
DEFINITION 20 No net gain or loss in total energy also called the First Law of Thermodynamics. Energy is neither created or destroyed
Second Law of Thermodynamics
In any energy conversion,some of the usable energy is always lost.
