Photosynthetic organisms that manufacture organic substances using light energy, water, carbon dioxide and mineral ions.
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Consumers
Organisms that obtain their energy by feeding on other organisms rather than using the energy of sunlight directly. Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.
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Saprobionts
(Decomposers) A group of organisms that break down the complex materials in dead organisms into simple ones. This releases valuable minerals and elements in a form that can be absorbed by plants and so, contribute to recycling. Eg. fungi and bacteria
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Food Chain
A feeding relationship between organisms in an environment and each stage in the chain is referred to as a trophic level.
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Biomass
The total mass of living material in a specific area at a given time. Fresh/wet biomass and dry biomass (no water included).
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Gross Primary Production
The total quantity of the chemical energy store in plant biomass, in a given area or volume, in a given time.
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Net Primary Production
The chemical energy store which is left when losses to respiration have been taken into account. NPP = GPP - R
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Ammonification
The production of ammonia from organic nitrogen-containing compounds. Saprobiontic microorganisms feed on faeces and dead organisms, releasing ammonia, which then forms ammonium ions in the soil
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Nitrification
Free-living soil microorganisms called nitrifying bacteria oxidise ammonium ions to nitrate ions. This reaction releases energy. Nitrifying bacteria require oxygen to do this so farmers plough fields. Ammonium ions -> Nitrite ions -> Nitrate ions
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Organisms that obtain their energy by feeding on other organisms rather than using the energy of sunlight directly. Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers.
Back
Consumers
Card 3
Front
(Decomposers) A group of organisms that break down the complex materials in dead organisms into simple ones. This releases valuable minerals and elements in a form that can be absorbed by plants and so, contribute to recycling. Eg. fungi and bacteria
Back
Card 4
Front
A feeding relationship between organisms in an environment and each stage in the chain is referred to as a trophic level.
Back
Card 5
Front
The total mass of living material in a specific area at a given time. Fresh/wet biomass and dry biomass (no water included).
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