SEV1 & SB5 Key Vocabulary

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Photosynthesis

Back

The process by which green plants, algae, or bacteria absorb light and synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water using chlorophyll, releasing oxygen as a by-product.

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Carrying capacity

Back

Maximum size of a population of a species in a particular ecosystem that can be supported by the resources of the area it occupies.

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Anaerobic respiration

Back

Adaptation of an organism to environmental conditions in the absence of free oxygen.

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Aerobic respiration

Back

Living or occurring only in the presence of free uncombined molecular oxygen, either as a gas in the atmosphere or dissolved in water.

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Cellular respiration

Back

Process by which a cell breaks down glucose and other organic molecules to acquire energy; also called oxidative metabolism.

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Limiting factor

Back

A chemical or physical factor that determines whether an organism can survive in a given ecosystem.

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Trophic level

Back

Feeding level; working categorization of organisms in an ecosystem according to feeding relationships.

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10% Rule

Back

Lindeman’s law of trophic efficiency: The efficiency of energy transfers from one trophic level to the next is about 10%.

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Carnivore

Back

A flesh eater (any animal) that attacks and eats other living animals; synonymous with predator.

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Omnivore

Back

A heterotrophic organism that consumes a wide range of food items, including both animal and plant matter.