Science Vocab

Question 1

Biotic Interactions

Answer 1

Interactions between living things

Question 2

Permafrost

Answer 2

A permanently frozen subsurface soil layer

Question 3

Ecology

Answer 3

Scientific study of relationships between organisms and their environments

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

Formed to collectively explain experiment observations

Question 5

Age structure

Answer 5

The proportion of a population in each age class

Question 6

Ecosystem

Answer 6

Community of organisms and the abiotic environment that accompanies them

Question 7

Mechanical Weathering

Answer 7

Freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles; parent material breaks down slowly

Question 8

B Horizon

Answer 8

Sometimes called subsoil, contains limited organic matter and often has accumulated mineral particles due to leaching from the topsoil

Question 9

Soil Texture

Answer 9

The relative proportions of different sized sediment grains

Question 10

O Horizon

Answer 10

The surface layer of soil consisting of organic material that accumulates from decomposing plant matter

Question 11

Deciduous

Answer 11

Describes a type of woody vegetation that loses its leaves in the fall, allowing much more light to penetrate the canopy than in the summer months

Question 12

C Horizon

Answer 12

The soil layer that lies beneath the sub soil and is compromised of unconsolidated material; there is low biological activity in this layer and it retains many characteristics of the parent material

Question 13

Soil Profile

Answer 13

Vertical layering in the soil column

Question 14

A horizon

Answer 14

Topsoil

Question 15

Range

Answer 15

A geographical area in which a particular species can be found

Question 16

Niche

Answer 16

A set of optimal environmental conditions that are most conducive to the successful photosynthesis, growth, survival, and reproduction of a species and that define the way the species fits into an ecological community or ecosystem

Question 17

Stress

Answer 17

A condition that constrains an organisms physiological processes, lowering its rate of growth, survival, or reproduction

Question 18

Fundamental Niche

Answer 18

A fixed geographical space, outside of which an organism could not find the resources needed to grow and reproduces

Question 19

Realized Niche

Answer 19

The process by which the presence of other species limits an organisms geographic distribution

Question 20

Evolution

Answer 20

The process by which a species becomes increasingly different from its ancestors and better adapted to its ever-changing surroundings

Question 21

Genetic variation

Answer 21

A gene’s potential to take on two or more different forms

Question 22

Genotype

Answer 22

A combination of different forms of genes that designates a genetic makeup

Question 23

Phenotype

Answer 23

The physical manifestation of genetic makeup

Question 24

Continental Climates

Answer 24

Climates characterized by large seasonal and daily variation in temperature