Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms - Introductory

You'll be at the top of the food chain once you master these words related to matter and energy flow in organisms. Explore how energy cycles through ecosystems as you learn about food webs, energy sources, and the differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. absorption
    a process in which one substance permeates another
  2. air
    the mass of gases surrounding the Earth
  3. algae
    primitive chlorophyll-containing aquatic organisms
  4. animal
    a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
  5. autotroph
    an organism capable of synthesizing its own food
  6. body temperature
    temperature of the body
  7. carbon dioxide
    a colorless, odorless greenhouse gas essential for photosynthesis
  8. carnivore
    a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
  9. cellular respiration
    the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs
  10. chemical energy
    that part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction
  11. chemical reaction
    a process in which substances are changed into others
  12. convert
    change the nature, purpose, or function of something
  13. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
  14. digestion
    the process by which the body breaks down food
  15. ecosystem
    organisms interacting with their physical environment
  16. energy
    any source of usable power
  17. food
    any substance that can be metabolized by an animal
  18. food chain
    community of organisms where each member is eaten by another
  19. food web
    community of organisms with several interrelated food chains
  20. growth
    changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
  21. herbivore
    any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
  22. heterotroph
    an organism that cannot make its own food supply
  23. leaf
    the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants
  24. matter
    that which has mass and occupies space
  25. nutrient
    any substance that can be metabolized to give energy
  26. omnivore
    an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances
  27. organism
    a living thing that can act or function independently
  28. oxygen
    a colorless, odorless gas that is essential for respiration
  29. plant
    a living organism without the power to move
  30. protein
    an organic compound essential to living cells
  31. respiration
    process converting nutrients into energy in a cell
  32. root
    underground plant organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes
  33. solar energy
    energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy
  34. stem
    a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant
  35. sugar
    an essential structural component of living cells
  36. water
    a liquid necessary for the life of most animals and plants
Created on Mon Jan 30 20:40:51 EST 2017 (updated Thu Apr 06 09:13:31 EDT 2017)

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