Section B: The living world key terms

Ecosystem

In Ecosystems, Ecosystem means a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to explain how ecosystems exist at a range of scales. Use Ecosystem only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

Scale

In Ecosystems, Scale means the level at which ecosystems can be studied, ranging from local to global. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to explain how ecosystems exist at a range of scales. Use Scale only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

biotic components

Living organisms in an ecosystem that interact with each other and their environment.

abiotic components

Non-living physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem, such as water, soil, and climate.

Ecosystem

In Ecosystems, Ecosystem means a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to use a small-scale UK ecosystem example to illustrate interrelationships within a natural system. Use Ecosystem only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

Interrelationships

The connections and interactions between different components within an ecosystem.

Producer

An organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis, and forms the base of the food chain.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil and completing the nutrient cycle.

food chain

A linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next, illustrating the flow of energy and nutrients.

food web

A complex network of interconnected food chains that shows how energy and nutrients circulate within an ecosystem.

Ecosystem balance

The state in which the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem interact in a way that maintains stability and sustainability.

Biotic components

The living parts of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms that interact with each other and their environment.

ecosystem

In Ecosystems, ecosystem means a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to explain the impact of changing one component of an ecosystem. Use ecosystem only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

abiotic components

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

ecosystem

In Ecosystems, ecosystem means a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to describe the distribution and characteristics of large-scale natural global ecosystems. Use ecosystem only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

distribution

In Ecosystems, distribution means the way in which something is shared out among a group or spread over an area. This matters in Section B: The living world because it supports the learning objective to describe the distribution and characteristics of large-scale natural global ecosystems. Use distribution only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, evidence-aware, and useful for AQA GCSE Geography 8035 revision.

tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest characterized by high biodiversity and a variety of plant and animal species.

biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of species and their relative abundance.

interdependence

The mutual reliance between components of a tropical rainforest, including climate, water, soils, plants, animals, and people.

tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest ecosystem characterized by high biodiversity and significant rainfall, typically found near the equator.

Adaptation

The process by which plants and animals adjust to their environment to improve their chances of survival.

Tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest characterized by high biodiversity and a variety of plant and animal species.

biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species and their relative abundance.

tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest found near the equator, characterized by high rainfall, diverse plant and animal species, and complex ecosystems.

Deforestation

The process of clearing or thinning forests by humans, leading to loss of trees and biodiversity.

Rate of Deforestation

The speed at which forested areas are being converted to non-forest land uses, often expressed as a percentage or area per year.

deforestation

The process of clearing or thinning forests, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land.

tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest found near the equator, characterized by high biodiversity and significant rainfall.

deforestation

The process of clearing or thinning forests, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land.

tropical rainforest

A dense, warm, and wet forest found near the equator, characterized by high biodiversity and a complex ecosystem.