The Biosphere Test

scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

group of ecosystems with similar climates and typical organisms

any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem

organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds

organisms that make their own food; also known as autotrophs. The most common example is a plant.

first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms (example: plants)

process of capturing light energy and using it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as glucose

process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

organism that obtains food by consuming (eating) other organisms