Chapter 4 Vocabulary

Any form of life

When an organism is surrounded by a membrane and has a distinct nucleus and several other internal parts called organelles

When an organism’s cell is surrounded by the membrane, but the cell contains no distinct nucleus or other internal parts enclosed by membranes

Groups of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup

A group go interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area

When individuals in a population vary slightly in their genetic makeup, which is why they do not all look or act alike

The place or environment where a population (or individual organism) normally lives

The area over which we can find a species

consists of all the populations of the different species living and interacting in an area

A community of different species interacting with one another and with their physical environment of matter and energy

All of the earth’s ecosystems together make up what we call the biosphere

A thin envelope or membrane of air around the planet

The inner layer, extends only about 17 kilometers above sea level

The layer after the Troposphere, stretching 17-48 kilometers above the earth’s surface The ozone layer is found here

Consists of the earth’s water. It is found as liquid water, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere

The earth’s crust and upper mantle

Large regions such as forests, deserts, and grasslands characterized by a distinct climate and specific species adapted to it

Form of cellular respiration when some decomposers get the energy they need by breaking down glucose in the absence of oxygen

The variety of genetic material within a species or a population

The number of species present in different habitats

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter cycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems

A more realistic type of chain that takes into account the complexity of nature

The dry weight of all organic matter contained in its organisms