Ch. 4 Key Terms

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Question 2

Biotic factor

Answer 2

A biotic factor is a living organism that shapes its environment. In a freshwater ecosystem, examples might include aquatic plants, fish, amphibians, and algae.

Question 3

Abiotic factor

Answer 3

An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment. In a terrestrial ecosystem, examples might include temperature, light, and water.

Question 4

Organism

Answer 4

A living thing that has an organized structure, can react to stimuli, reproduce, adapt, grow and maintain homeostasis.

Question 5

Species

Answer 5

A biological species is a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

A group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular geographic area.

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 structure or function of an organism or any of its parts that results from natural selection and by which the organism becomes better fitted to survive and multiply in its environment. a form or structure modified to fit a changed environment.

Question 12

Artificial Selection

Answer 12

is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits (characteristics) by choosing which typically animal or plant males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together.

Question 13

Resistance

Answer 13

The natural or genetic ability of an organism to avoid or repel attack by biotic agents (pathogens, pests, parasites, etc.) or to withstand the effects of abiotic agents (chemicals, pesticides, salt, wind, heavy metals, etc).

Question 14

Archaea

Answer 14

any of a group of single-celled prokaryotic organisms (that is, organisms whose cells lack a defined nucleus) that have distinct molecular characteristics separating them from bacteria

Question 15

Fungus

Answer 15

A fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms.

Question 16

Protist

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Gymnosperm

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Angiosperm

Answer 18

a plant that has flowers and produces seeds enclosed within a carpel. The angiosperms are a large group and include herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses, and most trees.

Question 19

Invertebrate

Answer 19

Invertebrates are animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column, derived from the notochord. This includes all animals apart from the subphylum Vertebrata.

Question 20

Vertebrate

Answer 20

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