Ch. 3

Question 1

Part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere

Answer 1

Biosphere

Question 2

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

Answer 2

Species

Question 3

Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Answer 3

Population

Question 4

Assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

Answer 4

Community

Question 5

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Answer 5

Ecology

Question 6

All the organisms that live in a place, together with their non living environment

Answer 6

Ecosystem

Question 7

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

Answer 7

Biome

Question 8

Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

Answer 8

Biotic factor

Question 9

Physical, or non living, factor that shapes an ecosystem

Answer 9

Abiotic factor

Question 10

Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer

Answer 10

Autotroph

Question 11

First producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

Answer 11

Primary producers

Question 12

Process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

Answer 12

Photosynthesis

Question 13

Process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

Answer 13

Chemosynthesis

Question 14

Organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer

Answer 14

Heterotroph

Question 15

Organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called heterotroph

Answer 15

Consumer

Question 16

Organism that obtains energy by eating animals

Answer 16

Carnivore

Question 17

Organism that obtains energy by eating only plants

Answer 17

Herbivore

Question 18

Animal that consumes the carcasses of other animals

Answer 18

Scavenger

Question 19

Organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals

Answer 19

Omnivore

Question 20

Organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

Answer 20

Decomposer

Question 21

Organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

Answer 21

Detritivore

Question 22

Series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Answer 22

Food chain

Question 23

Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

Answer 23

Phytoplankton

Question 24

Network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem

Answer 24

Food web

Question 25

Small free-floating animals that form part of plankton

Answer 25

Zooplankton

Question 26

Each step in a food chain or food web

Answer 26

Tropic level

Question 27

Illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web

Answer 27

Ecological pyramid

Question 28

Total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Answer 28

Biomass

Question 29

Process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Answer 29

Biogeochemical cycle

Question 30

Chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life

Answer 30

Nutrient

Question 31

Process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use

Answer 31

Nitrogen fixation

Question 32

Process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

Answer 32

Denitrification

Question 33

Single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem

Answer 33

Limiting nutrient