final vocab Flashcards
ecology
scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
biosphere
part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere
population
group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
community
All of the living things in one area
ecosystem
all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment
biome
group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities
autotroph
organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer
photosynthesis
process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches
heterotroph
organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer
herbivore
organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
carnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating animals
omnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
decomposer
organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter
food chain
series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
trophic level
step in a food chain or food web
biomass
total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level
independent variable
the variable that is changed during an experiment; also called manipulated variable
dependent variable
The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction; if, then statement
quantitative observation
An observation that deals with a number or amount
qualitative observation
An observation that deals with characteristics that cannot be expressed in numbers.
characteristics of life
reproduce, grow and develop, respond to environment, cells, DNA, needs energy, homeostasis, evolve
organ system
made up of organs doing the same job
organism
Any living thing, made up of organ systems
organ
group of tissues that work together
tissue
A group of similar cells that perform the same function.
cell
smallest unit of life
organelles
A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell
molecule
A group of atoms bonded together
atom
Basic unit of matter (NOT alive)
homeostasis
process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment
ADH
antidiuretic hormone; limits urine output
glucose
blood sugar
glucagon
hormone that causes sugar to be released from liver
insulin
hormone that causes cells to take up sugar
cohesion
Attraction between molecules of the same substance
adhesion
An attraction between molecules of different substances
high specific heat
The ability of water to resist changes in temperature.
ice floats on water
because water expands as it freezes; ice is less dense than water
solvent
water the universal solvent, it can dissolve many things because of its polarity
protein
made of amino acids, most prolific macromolecule, ex: muscle, enzymes, antibodies
carbohydrates
immediate energy, sugars, ex: glucose, fructose, lactose
lipids
Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
nucleic acids
storage and transfer of genetic information. Ex: DNA and RNA
What order is energy used in your body?
Carbohydrates, Lipids (fat), Protein (muscle)
activation energy
Energy needed to get a reaction started
enzyme
protein that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy
exothermic reaction
chemical reaction that loses energy
endothermic reaction
chemical reaction that ends with more energy
abiotic
Non-living
biotic
living things
Percent of energy moved up each step in the food chain
10%
niche
An organism’s particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.
Denature
A change in the shape of an enzyme that can be caused by changes in temperature or pH (among other things). Enzyme stops working.
carbon cycle
the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back; never lost, never gained
Parasitism
A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed
Mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Commensalism
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
secondary succession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
primary succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed; no soil
density independent factor
environmental factor, such as storms and extreme heat or cold, that affects populations regardless of their density
density dependent factor
factor that limits a population more as population density increases; running out of space, food, spreading disease
limiting factors
factor that stops a population from continuing to grow in number
Population Density
Number of individuals per unit area
population distribution
a description of how individuals are distributed with respect to one another; clumped, random, uniform
logistic growth
Growth pattern in which a population’s growth rate slows or stops following a period of exponential growth
exponential growth
Growth pattern in which the individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate
carrying capacity
Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support
greenhouse gases
Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.
greenhouse effect
When greenhouse gases build up above natural levels and make the earth warmer
global climate change
