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Organisation of an ecosystem key terms

Study Organisation of an ecosystem with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.

At a glance

key terms

Resource type

Topic

Organisation of an ecosystem

AqaGcseBiologyEcology

Key terms

  • apparatus

    apparatus is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Apply apparatus and technique skills for ecological sampling, including safe fieldwork and accurate measurement..

  • apply

    In Levels of organisation, apply means apply is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Apply apparatus and technique skills for ecological sampling, including safe fieldwork and accurate measurement. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to apply apparatus and technique skills for ecological sampling, including safe fieldwork and accurate measurement. Use apply only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • cycle

    cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that many materials cycle through abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems..

  • many

    In How materials are cycled, many means many is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that many materials cycle through abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to recall that many materials cycle through abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems. Use many only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • water cycle

    water cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain why carbon and water cycles are important to living organisms..

  • Explain

    In How materials are cycled, Explain means explain is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain why carbon and water cycles are important to living organisms. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain why carbon and water cycles are important to living organisms. Use Explain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • living

    living is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that materials in the living world are recycled to provide building blocks for future organisms..

  • materials

    In How materials are cycled, materials means materials is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that materials in the living world are recycled to provide building blocks for future organisms. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain that materials in the living world are recycled to provide building blocks for future organisms. Use materials only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • carbon cycle

    carbon cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe how the carbon cycle returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide..

  • carbon dioxide

    In How materials are cycled, carbon dioxide means carbon dioxide is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe how the carbon cycle returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to describe how the carbon cycle returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Use carbon dioxide only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • carbon dioxide

    carbon dioxide is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis..

  • photosynthesis

    In How materials are cycled, photosynthesis means photosynthesis is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain how plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Use photosynthesis only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • water cycle

    water cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe the water cycle as providing fresh water for plants and animals before water drains to the seas..

  • Describe

    In How materials are cycled, Describe means describe is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe the water cycle as providing fresh water for plants and animals before water drains to the seas. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to describe the water cycle as providing fresh water for plants and animals before water drains to the seas. Use Describe only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • evaporation

    evaporation is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe evaporation and precipitation as processes in the water cycle..

  • precipitation

    In How materials are cycled, precipitation means precipitation is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe evaporation and precipitation as processes in the water cycle. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to describe evaporation and precipitation as processes in the water cycle. Use precipitation only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • microorganism

    microorganism is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the role of microorganisms in returning carbon to the atmosphere and mineral ions to the soil..

  • mineral ion

    In How materials are cycled, mineral ion means mineral ion is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the role of microorganisms in returning carbon to the atmosphere and mineral ions to the soil. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain the role of microorganisms in returning carbon to the atmosphere and mineral ions to the soil. Use mineral ion only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • carbon cycle

    carbon cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Interpret diagrams of the carbon cycle..

  • Interpret

    In How materials are cycled, Interpret means interpret is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Interpret diagrams of the carbon cycle. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to interpret diagrams of the carbon cycle. Use Interpret only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • water cycle

    water cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Interpret diagrams of the water cycle..

  • Interpret

    In How materials are cycled, Interpret means interpret is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Interpret diagrams of the water cycle. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to interpret diagrams of the water cycle. Use Interpret only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • carbon cycle

    carbon cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain processes shown in carbon cycle and water cycle diagrams..

  • water cycle

    In How materials are cycled, water cycle means water cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain processes shown in carbon cycle and water cycle diagrams. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain processes shown in carbon cycle and water cycle diagrams. Use water cycle only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • cycle

    cycle is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that the nitrogen cycle is not required for GCSE Biology 8461..

  • nitrogen

    In How materials are cycled, nitrogen means nitrogen is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Recall that the nitrogen cycle is not required for GCSE Biology 8461. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to recall that the nitrogen cycle is not required for GCSE Biology 8461. Use nitrogen only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • decay

    decay is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how temperature affects the rate of decay of biological material..

  • rate

    In Decomposition (biology only), rate means rate is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how temperature affects the rate of decay of biological material. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain how temperature affects the rate of decay of biological material. Use rate only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • decay

    decay is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how water availability affects the rate of decay..

  • rate

    In Decomposition (biology only), rate means rate is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain how water availability affects the rate of decay. This matters in Organisation of an ecosystem because it supports the learning objective to explain how water availability affects the rate of decay. Use rate only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.