Ecosystems

• Abiotic components

  Non-living environmental factors that have influence over the ecosystem(E.g. climate, light exposure, soil type)
• Biome

  Also known as a global-scale ecosystem; a large, distinct region of the Earth with similar climate, soil, plants and animals
• biotic components 


  Living organisms that interact with the environment and other organisms within an ecosystem
• Coniferous forest biome

  A biome located at high latitudes, characterised by conifer tress and a cold climate
• Consumers


  Organisms that receive energy from consuming living organisms
• Decomposers


  Organisms that break down organic material and release the nutrients back into the ecosystem
• Desert biome

  A biome located around 30o north and south of the equator, characterised by extremely low precipitation levels and extreme daily temperature fluctuations
• Ecosystem

  A natural system in which a community of plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment
• Eutrophication

  The growth of algae in a body of water due to excess nutrients, leading to the depletion of oxygen in an aquatic ecosystem
• Food chain

  A linear relationship showing the biotic interactions within an ecosystem, from a producer to a final consumer
• Food web

  A representation of the interactions between multiple producers and consumers within a specific ecosystem, shown through a series of different food webs
• Nutrient cycling

  The transfer of nutrients through an ecosystem from the decay of organic material into the production and energy of living organisms
• Producers

  Organisms that convert energy from the environment (sunlight) into sugars(glucose)
• Temperate deciduous forest biome

  A biome located around 40-50 north and south of the equator characterised by deciduous trees(trees that shed their leaves) and moderate precipitation
• Temperate grassland biome

  A biome located in non -coastal areas around 30-40o north and south of the equator characterised by low precipitation and grasses as the major vegetation
• Tropical rainforest biome

  A biome located near the equator characterised by very high precipitation and sustained warm temperatures