The living world flashcards

?
Ecosystem
A community of plants (flora) and animals (fauna), that interact with each other and their physical environment (non-living components e.g. temperature). Ecosystems exist on a range of scales; Small scale, i.e pond, to large scale i.e woodland.
1 of 16
Producer
An organism or plant that can absorb energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. It also needs water, carbon dioxide and nutrients (from soil/rocks) to produce what it needs for its self. E.g. algae
2 of 16
Consumer
A creature that eats herbivores and/or plant matter. They obtain their energy from what they eat. E.g. humans
3 of 16
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down dead tissue which effectively recycles their nutrients back into the environment. E.g. bacteria and fungi
4 of 16
Food chain
The connections between different organisms (animals and plants), that rely upon one another as their food source.
5 of 16
Food web
A complex hierarchy of fauna and flora, relying on each other for food.
6 of 16
Nutrient cycle
A set of processes whereby organisms extract nutrients (e.g. nitrogen) necessary for growth, from soil or water, before passing them on through the food chain.
7 of 16
Abiotic
Non-living features. E.g. rocks, sunlight, water and air.
8 of 16
Biotic
Animals and plants. E.g. algae, plankton, dog, elephant.
9 of 16
Abiotic factors
Sunlight, wind speed and direction, inundation, soil PH, infiltration rates, rainfall, slope, soil fertility, aspect, humus content.
10 of 16
Biotic factors
Competition, interaction with other plants and animals.
11 of 16
Human factors
How humans influence ecosystems
12 of 16
Psammosere
Another name for a sand dune ecosystem.
13 of 16
Succession
The change in species in an ecosystem overtime.
14 of 16
Zonation
The change in species over space.
15 of 16
Xerophyte
A plant adapted to living in a dry arid habitat like a sand dune.
16 of 16

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

An organism or plant that can absorb energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. It also needs water, carbon dioxide and nutrients (from soil/rocks) to produce what it needs for its self. E.g. algae

Back

Producer

Card 3

Front

A creature that eats herbivores and/or plant matter. They obtain their energy from what they eat. E.g. humans

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

An organism that breaks down dead tissue which effectively recycles their nutrients back into the environment. E.g. bacteria and fungi

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The connections between different organisms (animals and plants), that rely upon one another as their food source.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all Ecosystems resources »