the development of a characteristic which increases the ability of an organism to survive
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AUTOTROPHS
organisms which are able to produce complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules
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BIODIVERSITY
the number of separate species living in an ecosystem
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BIOMASS
measured in KJ/m2/year – the organism matter which makes up living organisms
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BIOME
a major region of global biotic community
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BIOSYNTHESIS
the process of using energy to produce complex organic chemicals within cells
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CHEMAUTOTROPHS
organisms which are able to produce complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules
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COMMUNITY
all the living organisms present in an ecosystem
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DECOMPOSERS
organisms which break down waste organic material, including urine, into simpler inorganic products, such as nitrates
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DENITRIFYING BACTERIA
converts nitrates in the soil into nitrogen gas, which is returned to the air
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ECOSYSTEM
the interaction between the organisms, habitats and resources in the area
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EUTROPHICATION
when fertilisers cause an increase in nutrient levels in rivers
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FIXING OF NITROGEN
converting unreactive nitrogen gas into more reactive soluble, nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates, which are used by producers to produce proteins
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FLUXES
points on the nutrient cycle, where there is an arrow, to show the movement of the nutrient from one place to another
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HABER PROCESS
reversible reaction using hydrogen and nitrogen to produce ammonia
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HABITAT
a particular place where a community of organisms is found
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LEACHING
when soluble nitrites and nitrates dissolve in rain water and flow from soil into rivers
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NATURAL SELECTION
changes in an ecosystem, causing competition between individual organisms
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NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
when a departure from a set level brings about changes, which lead to the return of the set level
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PHOTOAUTOTROPHS
molecules which are able to produce complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules using light energy
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PIXEL
squares representing information about a fixed area
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POPULATION
the number of one species in an area at a particular time
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POSTIVIE FEEDBACK
a process which increases the effect of a change which occurs in a system
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PRODUCTIVITY
the rate at which biomass is added to an ecosystem by producers
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REMOTE SENSING
obtaining information about something without being in direct physical contact with it
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RESEVOIRS
points on the nutrients cycle where the nutrient stays in one place or organism for some time
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RESOLUTION
the smallest object which can be resolved on the ground
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SCATTERING
a process which causes rays of light to change direction
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SENSITIVITY
the measure of the intensity of an input signal needed to produce some kind of output
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SPECIATION
the formation of two or more species from one original species, through natural selection over many generations, causing evolution
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SPECIES
a group of physically similar organisms, which can breed to produce fertile offspring
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STEADY STATE
when the removal of nutrients perfectly balances the replacement or nutrients in soils
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
organisms which are able to produce complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules
Back
AUTOTROPHS
Card 3
Front
the number of separate species living in an ecosystem
Back
Card 4
Front
measured in KJ/m2/year – the organism matter which makes up living organisms
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