A1.1 Ecological Systems
A1.1.1 Key Definitions
Environment:
“The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.”
“(the environment) the natural world, especially as affected by human activity.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
Process:
“A series of actions or steps towards achieving a particular end.”
“A natural series of changes: the ageing process.”
“Biology & Anatomy a natural appendage or outgrowth on or in an organism.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
System:
“A set of things working together as a mechanism or interconnecting network.”
“An organized scheme or method.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
Ecology:
“The branch of biology concerned with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
Ecosystem:
“A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
Cycle:
“A series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
“A complete sequence of changes associated with a recurring phenomenon such as an alternating current, wave, etc.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary