Ch 4 Key Terms

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life

Question 2

Biotic Factor

Answer 2

any living thing that has an effect on an ecosystem

Question 3

Abiotic Factor

Answer 3

a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it

Question 4

Organism

Answer 4

an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.

Question 5

Species

Answer 5

group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.

Question 7

Community

Answer 7

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

Question 8

Habitat

Answer 8

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Question 9

Natural Selection

Answer 9

the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution.

Question 10

Evolution

Answer 10

the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth

Question 11

Adaptation

Answer 11

the action or process of adapting or being adapted.

Question 12

Artificial Selection

Answer 12

Image result for artificial selection definition
Artificial selection is the identification by humans of desirable traits in plants and animals, and the steps taken to enhance and perpetuate those traits in future generations.

Question 13

Resistance

Answer 13

the ability not to be affected by something, especially adversely.

Question 14

Archaea

Answer 14

any of a group of single-celled prokaryotic organisms

Question 15

Bacteria

Answer 15

a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.

Question 16

Fungus

Answer 16

any of a group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

Question 17

Protist

Answer 17

a single-celled organism of the kingdom Protista, such as a protozoan or simple alga.

Question 18

Gymnosperm

Answer 18

a plant that has seeds unprotected by an ovary or fruit. Gymnosperms include the conifers, cycads, and ginkgo.

Question 19

Angiosperm

Answer 19

a plant that has flowers and produces seeds enclosed within a carpel

Question 20

Invertebrate

Answer 20

an animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, etc. The invertebrates constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95 percent of animal species and about 30 different phyla.

Question 21

Vertebrate

Answer 21

an animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.