Introduction to Global Systems

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Ecology Noun

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[ee-kol-uh-jee]

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Ecology

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The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

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Example: Ecology is the study of interactions between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things, which are the basic components of any ecosystem.

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Biosphere Noun

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[bahy-oh-sfeer]

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Biosphere

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The part of Earth in which life exists, including all ecosystems on land, in water, and in the atmosphere.

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Example: This diagram shows the biosphere as the zone of life on Earth, spanning the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), and hydrosphere (water).

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Species Noun

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[spee-sheez]

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Species

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A group of similar organisms that can successfully breed with one another to produce fertile offspring.

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Example: This diagram shows how scientists classify living things from general to specific, with 'species' being the most specific and fundamental group.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shuhn]

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Population

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A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live together in the same geographic area.

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Example: This graph shows how a population's size changes over time, eventually leveling off when it reaches the environment's carrying capacity.

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Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

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Community

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An assemblage of different populations of various species living and interacting within a defined area.

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Example: This image shows a community by illustrating many different types of living things (populations), like moose, fish, and birds, all sharing the same habitat.

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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 considered as a single, functional unit.

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Example: This diagram shows an ecosystem where energy flows from the sun to plants, then to animals, and finally to decomposers, with heat lost at each step.

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Biome Noun

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[bahy-ohm]

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Biome

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A large group of ecosystems that share similar climates and are characterized by distinctive organisms.

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Example: This image shows that a biome is a large region with a specific climate, plants, and animals, by displaying examples like the tundra and desert.

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Biotic Factor Noun

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[bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Biotic Factor

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Any living or once-living component of an environment with which an organism might interact.

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Example: Biotic factors are all the living or once-living parts of an ecosystem, including animals, plants, fungi, and microscopic organisms like bacteria.

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Abiotic Factor Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Abiotic Factor

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Any nonliving chemical or physical part of the environment that affects living organisms and ecosystem functioning.

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Example: This image shows the word 'Abiotic' decorated with non-living things like the sun, water, rocks, and wind, which are all examples of abiotic factors.

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Atmosphere Noun

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[at-muhs-feer]

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Atmosphere

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The global system that includes all the gases that surround Earth, held in place by gravity.

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Example: This diagram shows the atmosphere is a system made of distinct layers, each with unique altitudes, temperatures, and characteristics like weather or auroras.