Matter and Energy in Ecosystems

Front

Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tuhm]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, including all living and nonliving things.

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Example: The image shows a pond ecosystem with fish, plants, and water, illustrating how living and nonliving things interact.

Front

Photosynthesis Noun

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[foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis]

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Photosynthesis

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A chemical process converting light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose for food and releasing oxygen.

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Example: The image shows how a plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and sugar through photosynthesis.

Front

Cellular Respiration Noun

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[sel-yuh-ler res-puh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Cellular Respiration

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A series of chemical reactions that convert the energy in food molecules into a usable form of energy called ATP.

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Example: The image shows how glucose and oxygen are used to produce carbon dioxide, water, and ATP in cellular respiration.

Front

Chloroplast Noun

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[klawr-uh-plast]

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Chloroplast

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An organelle found in plant and algae cells where the essential process of photosynthesis takes place.

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Example: The image shows a chloroplast inside a plant leaf, highlighting parts like the stroma and thylakoid where photosynthesis occurs.

Front

Mitochondrion Noun

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[mahy-toh-kon-dree-uhn]

Back

Mitochondrion

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An organelle in eukaryotic cells where cellular respiration occurs to produce large amounts of usable energy called ATP.

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Example: A diagram of a mitochondrion showing labeled parts like the outer membrane, inner membrane, and ATP synthase, illustrating where energy production occurs.

Front

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) Noun

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[uh-den-uh-seen trahy-fos-feyt]

Back

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

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A molecule that carries energy within cells, produced during cellular respiration to power various essential cellular processes.

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Example: Cellular respiration converts glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and ATP, the energy carrier.

Front

Glucose Noun

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[gloo-kohs]

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Glucose

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A simple sugar molecule that is an important energy source in living organisms and a product of photosynthesis.

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Example: This diagram shows glucose's molecular structure, illustrating its composition of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Front

Stomata Noun

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[stoh-muh-tuh]

Back

Stomata

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Small openings on the surface of a leaf through which carbon dioxide, water vapor, and oxygen can pass.

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Example: The image shows stomata on a leaf, illustrating how they allow carbon dioxide, water vapor, and oxygen to pass through.

Front

Chlorophyll Noun

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[klawr-uh-fil]

Back

Chlorophyll

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The green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy from the sun, which is essential for photosynthesis.

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Example: The image shows a chloroplast in a leaf, highlighting where chlorophyll is found for photosynthesis.

Front

Producer Noun

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[pruh-doo-ser]

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Producer

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An organism, like a plant, that creates its own food from simple inorganic substances found in its environment.

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Example: A plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce its own food through photosynthesis.