Glossary

Question 1

Habitat

Answer 1

The place where an organism, species, or population lives

Question 2

Population

Answer 2

All the individuals of a particular species living in a particular area

Question 3

Exoskeleton

Answer 3

A skeleton on the outside f an organism such as found in insects and crustaceans

Question 4

Turbulence

Answer 4

The roughness of the environment caused by chaotic air or water flow

Question 5

Heterotroph

Answer 5

An organism that gains its organic compounds for energy and growth from other organisms

Question 6

Cellulase

Answer 6

An enzyme that digests cellulose that is produced by some bacteria, fungi, protozoans

Question 7

Cellulose

Answer 7

The carbohydrate made of linked glucose molecules which is a major component of plant cell walls and wood

Question 8

Symbiosis

Answer 8

A relationship between organisms of different species which live together.
One benefits while the other suffers, is unaffected, or also benefits

Question 9

Mycorrhizal fungi

Answer 9

Symbiotic fungi associated with plant roots tat gain carbohydrates from the plants and aid the uptake of nutrients such as phosphates from the soil by the plants

Question 10

Pollination

Answer 10

The transfer of the male plant gametes onto the female part of a flower, resulting in fertilisation and seed production

Question 11

Community

Answer 11

A community of species refers to the populations of all the species living in a particular area

Question 12

Taxonomy

Answer 12

The study of organisms to assess how they may be grouped or classified

Question 13

Taxon

Answer 13

A group of organisms based on their biological similarities

Question 14

Genus

Answer 14

A group of closely related species

Question 15

Ecosystem

Answer 15

The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment

Question 16

Biome

Answer 16

A large geographical region with particular climatic features in which a characteristic unique community lives

Question 17

Ecological succession

Answer 17

The sequences of changes in a community composition that changes as an area is colonised and develops until a climax community is reached

Question 18

Lithosere

Answer 18

The sequence of changes in community composition as bare rock is colonised and becomes a terrestrial climax community

Question 19

Autotrophs

Answer 19

Organisms that can capture light or chemical energy from the environment to make high-energy substances such as carbohydrates.
Includes photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs

Question 20

Density independent factors

Answer 20

A factor that is not influenced by the population density of the species that may be affected eg. drought

Question 21

Density dependent factors

Answer 21

A factor whose effect is affected by the density of the population eg. disease

Question 22

Carrying capacity

Answer 22

The greatest population that can be sustainably supported in an area

Question 23

Sigmoidal population growth

Answer 23

The growth pattern of a population where abundant resources allow rapid growth followed by population stabilisation as the carrying capacity is reached

Question 24

Edaphic

Answer 24

A factor related to soil, particularly as it affects living organisms