Chapter 4 Flashcards
ecosystem
a biological community if interacting organisms and their physical environment
biotic factor
a living thing, as an animal or plant, that influences or affects an ecosystem
abiotic factor
a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects and ecosystem and the organisms in it
organism
a form of life composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes
species
a class of individuals having some common characteristics or qualities
population
the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city or area
community
a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage
habitat
the natural environment of an organism place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism
natural selection
the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures as predators
evolution
any process of formation or growth, development
adaptation
any alteration in 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
artificial selection
a process in the breeding of animas and in the cultivation of plants by which the breeder chooses to perpetuate only those forms having certain desirable inheritable characteristics
resistance
the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding
archaea
a group of microorganisms, including the methanogens and certain halophiles and thermoacidophiles, that have RNA sequences
bacteria
ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-shaped and appearing singly or in chains
