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 factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism, for example a predator consuming its prey.

Question 3

Abiotic Factor

Answer 3

non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.

Question 4

Organism

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Species

Answer 5

the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction.

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

Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype.

Question 10

Evolution

Answer 10

is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection.

Question 11

Adaptation

Answer 11

the action or process of adapting or being adapted.

Question 12

Artificial Selection

Answer 12

the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding

Question 13

Resistance

Answer 13

the refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument.

Question 14

Archaea

Answer 14

a domain of single-celled 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 which can cause disease.

Question 16

Fungus

Answer 16

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

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

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.