Chapter 36: Ecosystems and Conservation Biology
1. producer: organism that makes its own food (autotroph) and produces organic molecules that
serve as food for other organisms in its
2. consumer: organism that obtains food by eating producers (autotrophs) or other consumers
3. decomposer: organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
4. trophic level: feeding level in an ecosystem
5. food chain: pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another
6. herbivore: consumer that eats only producers
7. carnivore: consumer that eats only other consumers
8. omnivore: consumer that eats both producers and consumers
9. primary consumer: consumer that feeds directly on producers
10. secondary consumer: consumer that eats primary consumers
11. tertiary consumer: consumer that eats secondary consumers
12. detritus: wastes and remains of dead organisms
13. food web: pattern of feeding in an ecosystem consisting of interconnected and branching food
chains
14. biomass: organic material manufactured by producers
15. primary productivity: rate at which producers in an ecosystem build biomass
16. energy pyramid: diagram representing energy loss from one trophic level to the next
17. biomass pyramid: diagram representing the biomass in each trophic level of an ecosystem
18. pyramid of numbers: representation of the number of individual organisms in each trophic
level of an ecosystem
19. nitrogen fixation: process by which certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas to ammonia
20. nitrification: process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium to nitrates
21. transpiration: evaporation of water from a plant's leaves
22. deforestation: clearing of forests for agriculture, lumber, or other uses
23. greenhouse effect: process by which atmospheric gases trap heat close to Earth's surface and
prevent it from escaping into space
24. global warming: rise in Earth's average temperature
25. eutrophication: rapid growth of algae in bodies of water, due to high levels of nitrogen and
often phosphate
26. acid rain: precipitation that contains nitric and/or sulfuric acids
27. pollution: addition of substances to the environment that result in a negative effect
28. biological magnification: process by which pollutants become more concentrated in
successive trophic levels of a food web
29. ozone: atmospheric gas (O3) that absorbs ultraviolet radiation, shielding organisms from its
damaging effects
30. biodiversity: variety of life on Earth
31. overexploitation: practice of harvesting or hunting to such a degree that remaining
individuals may not be able to replenish the population
32. conservation biology: application of biology to counter the loss of biodiversity
33. zoned reserve: area of land that is relatively undisturbed by humans and is surrounded by
buffer zones that are minimally impacted by humans
34. buffer zone: area of a reserve that is minimally impacted by humans
35. sustainable development: use of natural resources in a way that allows them to renew
themselves and be available for the future
Chapter 36: Ecosystems and Conservation Biology
Name: _____________________________
Chapter 36: Ecosystems and Conservation Biology
Vocabulary
producer:
consumer:
decomposer:
trophic level:
food chain:
herbivore:
carnivore:
omnivore:
primary consumer:
secondary consumer:
tertiary consumer:
detritus:
food web:
biomass:
primary productivity:
energy pyramid:
biomass pyramid:
pyramid of numbers:
nitrogen fixation:
nitrification:
Chapter 36: Ecosystems and Conservation Biology
transpiration:
deforestation:
greenhouse effect:
global warming:
eutrophication:
acid rain:
biological magnification:
ozone:
biodiversity:
overexploitation:
conservation biology:
zoned reserve:
buffer zone:
sustainable development: