Ecology Crossword

6. foundation of most aquatic ecosystems
8. all of Earth's freshwater and saltwater including the water in the atmosphere and underground or in ice
9. any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact
10. an environment that consists of unique abiotic and biotic factors
13. a material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter
14. all the organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment are known as
15. all parts of Earth in which life exists
17. patterns and averages of temperature, precipitation, clouds, and wind over many years
19. the phenomenon where, like a greenhouse, gases allow visible light to enter, but trap heat, controlling the Earth's average temperature
20. a layer made up of shorter trees and vines
21. an assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area is a

1. a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
2. short-term changes in temperature, precipitation, clouds, and wind from day to day or minute to minute
3. below the photic zone where photosynthesis cannot occur
4. a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
5. a leafy covering from 50-80 meters above the forest floor
7. any nonliving part of the environment
11. the sunlit region near the surface of the ocean where photosynthesis can occur
12. all the "solid stuff" like rocks, continents and the ocean floor
16. a wetland formed where a river meets the sea
18. the study of nature's "houses," the organisms that live in those houses, and their interactions