Earth's Systems Flashcards
System
the computational and mathematical analysis and modeling of complex biological systems.
Feedback
the process of returning part of the output of a circuit, system, or device to the input, either to oppose the input (negative feedback ) or to aid the input (positive feedback ).
Model
a standard or example for imitation or comparison.
Biosphere
he part of the earth’s crust, waters, and atmosphere that supports life.
Ecosystem
Ecology. a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment:
Aquatic ecosystems differ radically from their terrestrial counterparts.
Biome
the highest or most intense point in the development or resolution of something; culmination:
His career reached its climax when he was elected president.
Organism
a form of life composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes.
Population
the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, or any district or area.
Biotic Factor
a living thing, as an animal or plant, that influences or affects an ecosystem:
How do humans affect other biotic factors?
Weather is not a biotic factor because it is not alive
Abiotic Factor
a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it:
Abiotic factors can determine which species of organisms will survive in a given environment.
Community
a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
Habitat
the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism:
a tropical habitat
Niche
an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
Biodiversity
biological diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment:
Coral reefs are not just havens for marine biodiversity, they also underpin the economies of many coastal communities.
Spiraling extinctions will continue diminishing biodiversity for hundreds of years.
Keystone Species
A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. A keystone species is often a dominant predator whose removal allows a prey population to explode and often decreases overall diversity. Other kinds of keystone species are those, such as coral or beavers, that significantly alter the habitat around them and thus affect large numbers of other organisms. Compare indicator species.
