Biomes

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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, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

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Example: This diagram shows an ecosystem where energy flows from the sun to plants, then to animals, and is recycled by 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, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, such as a forest or tundra.

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Example: This image shows four different examples of biomes—Tundra, Forest, Grassland, and Desert—each with typical plants and animals, to illustrate the overarching concept.

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Flora Noun

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[flor-uh]

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Flora

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The collective term for all the plant life occurring in a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

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Example: Flora refers to all the plant life in a particular region. This image shows the flora of a desert biome, including different types of cacti and shrubs.

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Fauna Noun

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[faw-nuh]

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Fauna

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The collective term for all the animal life of any particular region, habitat, or geological period.

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Example: This image shows the fauna, or all the different animals, that live together in a forest and pond biome, including mammals, birds, and fish.

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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 that affects another organism or shapes the ecosystem, including animals, plants, and fungi.

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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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A non-living chemical or physical part of the environment that affects living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

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Example: This diagram defines abiotic factors as non-living parts of an ecosystem and shows key examples like sunlight, water, soil, and temperature that determine a biome.

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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 of the same species living and interbreeding within a given geographical area.

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Example: This graph shows how the population size of two species, the snowshoe hare and its predator the lynx, changes over many years in their biome.

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Community Noun

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[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

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Community

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An interacting group of various species in a common location, representing the biotic components of an ecosystem.

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Example: This image shows a community where different species—an ant, aphids, and a plant—all live together and interact in the same small area.

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Habitat Noun

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[hab-i-tat]

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Habitat

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The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism, providing food, water, and shelter.

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Example: This diagram shows that a habitat is a place where organisms live, and it can be classified into major types like terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water), with specific examples for each.

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Autotroph Noun

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[aw-tuh-trohf]

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Autotroph

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An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, or other chemicals; also known as a producer.

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Example: An autotroph, like this plant, creates its own food using energy from sunlight, water from the soil, and carbon dioxide from the air.