Unit 1 - Ecology Vocab

Question 1

b

Acid Rain

Answer 1

Air pollution + Precipitation

Question 2

Binomial Nomenclature

Answer 2

two-word naming system for all organisms; gives the scientific name consisting of genus and species; ex. Homo sapiens/ (humans)

Question 3

Bioaccumulation/biomagnification

Answer 3

Increase in amount of pollutants in environment (biomagnification) organisms as you move up trophic level (bioaccumulation)

Question 4

Carbon Cycle

Answer 4

Cycle of carbon through organisms, atmosphere, and soil

Question 5

Carrying Capacity

Answer 5

Max # of organisms of a population that an environment can support

Question 6

Cell

Answer 6

Smallest unit of life; membrane-bound unit

Question 7

Class

Answer 7

Group of organisms with closely related Orders

Question 8

Classical Conditioning

Answer 8

learned involuntary responses from associating stimuli ex. Bell rings = dinner; dog knows they’ll get food when bell rings

Question 9

Classification

Answer 9

Putting organisms into groups with similar characteristics

Question 10

Courtship

Answer 10

behaviour that results in mating: ex. flirting

Question 11

Dichotomous Key

Answer 11

Scientific tool used to identify different organisms based on observable traits

Question 12

Domain

Answer 12

Largest of all taxonomic groups in the classification of life

Question 13

Eukaryote

Answer 13

Nucleus + membrane-bound organelles

Question 14

Eutrophication

Answer 14

To many nutrients in water, usually from runoff, causes growth of plants/algae and a death of animals from a lack of oxygen.

Question 15

External Fertilization

Answer 15

When eggs are fertilized outside the female’s body ex. most fish

Question 16

Family

Answer 16

Taxonomic group of closely related Genus

Question 17

Fossil Fuels

Answer 17

Buried remains of ancient organisms that can be used as a source of energy

Question 18

Genus

Answer 18

Group of closely related species with the same Family

Question 19

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 19

Heat is trapped close to Earth’s surface by ‘greenhouse gases,’ keeping the planet warm.

Question 20

Habituation

Answer 20

Less sensitive to a stimulus after repeated exposure ex. strong odors

Question 21

Hibernation

Answer 21

Deep sleep that helps them to save energy and survive the winter

Question 22

Imprinting

Answer 22

Offspring attachments during youth like parents

Question 23

Internal Fertilization

Answer 23

When eggs are fertilized inside the female’s body ex. humans

Question 24

Invasive Species

Answer 24

Organisms introduced into an environment where they out-compete native species and populations explode

Question 25

Kingdom

Answer 25

second largest taxonomic group; closely related phyla

Question 26

Limiting Factor

Answer 26

Something in the environment that limits a population from growing; ex. disease, predation, and natural disasters

Question 27

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 27

Transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, living organisms, and back to the atmosphere

Question 28

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 28

Bacteria or lighting converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia

Question 29

Order

Answer 29

a group of closely related families

Question 30

Pheromone

Answer 30

Substance produced to show others to engage in some kind of behavior

Question 31

Phylum

Answer 31

Group of closely related classes

Question 32

Placenta

Answer 32

An organ that develops in the fetus during pregnancy

Question 33

Prokaryote

Answer 33

Bacteria cell without nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

Question 34

Seed

Answer 34

Plant structure with embryo & food surrounded by a protective coat

Question 35

Species

Answer 35

Group of organisms that can successfully interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 36

Spore

Answer 36

Reproductive cells fungi produce

Question 37

Suckling

Answer 37

Mammal nurses to offspring

Question 38

Taxis

Answer 38

Response because of a stimulus

Question 39

Taxonomy

Answer 39

Classifying organisms into groups based upon similar characteristics

Question 40

Territoriality

Answer 40

the defense of an area

Question 41

Trial and Error Learning

Answer 41

Animal performs a behavior over and over again until success is achieved

Question 42

Tropism

Answer 42

Growth or movement of a plant in response to the environment

Question 43

Waste Lagoon

Answer 43

Body of water used to dispose of animal wastes on farms; bad if mixes with runoff

Question 44

Name the taxonomy groups

Answer 44

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species