Unit 1: The Nature of Biology and Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

Acid Rain

A

Precipitation that is the result of air pollution reacting with water molecules in the atmosphere leading to the destruction of forest and lake ecosystems

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2
Q

Animalia

A

Organisms in this kingdom are multicellular heterotrophs without cell walls

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3
Q

Autotroph

A

An organism that can make its own food; aka producer; one example is plants (by photosynthesis)

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4
Q

Binomial Nomenclature

A

Two-word naming system for all organisms developed by Linnaeus; gives the scientific name (consisting of genus and species); ex. Homo sapiens

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5
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

the increase in concentration of pollutants in the tissues of organisms as you move up trophic levels in an ecosystem; aka biomagnification

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6
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

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6
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

Largest number of individuals of a population that an environment can support

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6
Q

Camouflage

A

An adaptation that enables a species to blend in with its environment

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7
Q

Cell

A

Smallest unit of life

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8
Q

Class

A

A group of closely related orders

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9
Q

Classical Conditioning

A

Learning by association; ex. Pavlov’s dog salivating at the sound of a bell

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10
Q

Classification

A

The process of grouping organisms based on their physical similarities and DNA

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11
Q

Competition

A

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

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11
Q

Climate Change

A

a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed rising levels of carbon dioxide and pollution; formerly called global warming

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11
Q

Consumer

A

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms; aka “heterotroph”

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12
Q

Courtship

A

Behavior used to attract a mate

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13
Q

Decomposer

A

organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter; an organism that carries out decomposition

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14
Q

Deforestation

A

The destruction of forests

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15
Q

Dichotomous Key

A

A series of paired statements used to help identify an organism

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16
Q

Eubacteria

A

kingdom that includes bacteria that live everywhere (except in extreme environments)

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16
Q

Domain

A

the largest taxon; there are 3–Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

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17
Q

Eutrophication

A

excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plants/algae and a death of animals from a lack of oxygen

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17
Q

Eukaryote

A

a cell that has a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles

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17
Q

Exponential Growth

A

j-shaped, explosive pattern of population growth

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17
Q

External Fertilization

A

process in which eggs are fertilized outside the female’s body; ex. most fish

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18
Q

Family

A

A group of closely related genera

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18
Q

Fossil Fuels

A

Coal, oil, and natural gas coming from the ancient remains of plants and animals; the burning of these is a major contributor to climate change

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19
Q

Fungi

A

kingdom that includes organisms which are heterotrophs that have cell walls made of chitin; molds, yeasts, and mushrooms are examples

19
Q

Genus

A

A Group of closely related species

19
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

normal warming effect caused when the sun’s rays are trapped by gases in the Earth’s atmosphere; without this, the Earth would be a ball of ice

20
Q

Habitat Destruction

A

The loss of natural habitat for species that can lead to extinction

21
Q

Habituation

A

an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

22
Q

Heterotroph

A

an organism that must get food from its environment; aka consumer; one example is animals

22
Q

Hibernation

A

A period of inactivity that some animals experience in winter that allows them to survive on stored body fat

23
Q

Imprinting

A

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

24
Q

Limiting Factor

A

an environmental condition that restricts the size of a population; examples include: disease, predation, and natural disasters

24
Q

Kingdom

A

second largest taxonomic group, consisting of closely related phyla

25
Q

Multicellular

A

Made of two or more cells

26
Q

Mutualism

A

symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit; ex. good bacteria in the human gut

27
Q

Internal Fertilization

A

Process in which eggs are fertilized inside the female’s body; ex. humans

27
Q

Invasive/Non-Native Species

A

plants and animals that are deliberately/accidentally introduced into an area whose populations explode because they have no known natural predators and out-compete native species for resources leading to their decline

28
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

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

29
Q

Nitrogen Fixation

A

process of converting nitrogen in the air, into a form that plants and animals can use (nitrates and nitrites)

30
Q

Order

A

A group of closely related families

31
Q

Non-Native Species

A

a species that is not naturally found in an ecosystem, and that does not hinder the survival of other species there

32
Q

Parasitism

A

form of symbiosis in which one organism, the parasite, benefits and the other organism, the host, is harmed; ex. tick and a dog

33
Q

Organism

A

A living thing

34
Q

Phylum

A

an organ in the uterus of a pregnant mammal, that nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord

35
Q

Plantae

A

kingdom with organisms that are photosynthetic autotrophs and have cell walls made of cellulose

36
Q

Predator

A

An animal that hunts other animals for food

36
Q

Prey

A

an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food

37
Q

Pheromone

A

a chemical released by one animal that affects the behavior of another animal of the same species

38
Q

Producer

A

an organism that can make its own food; aka “autotroph”

39
Q

Protista

A

the most diverse kingdom; some are plant-like, some are animal-like, and some are fungus-like; examples include: euglena, paramecium, and amoeba

40
Q

Prokaryote

A

a bacterial cell; a cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

41
Q

Seed

A

a plant structure that contains an embryo & food source surrounded by a protective coat

42
Q

Species

A

the smallest/most specific taxon; a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

43
Q

Spore

A

a reproductive cell with a hard, protective coating; made by bacteria, fungi, and some plants like ferns

44
Q

Stewardship

A

commitment to the responsible management of natural resources and sustainable actions to help preserve the environment

45
Q

Suckling

A

When a young mammal nurses from its mother

46
Q

Symbiosis

A

A close relationship between two species living together

47
Q

Taxis

A

Movement toward or away from a stimulus

48
Q

Taxonomy

A

branch of biology that involves classifying organisms into groups based upon similar characteristics

49
Q

Territoriality

A

Behaviors that organisms display in order to defend a space; growling, barking, hairs on back standing up; actually reduces conflict between members of a species in an environment

49
Q

Trial and Error Learning

A

behavior in which an animal learns to perform a behavior over and over again until success is achieved; ex. learning to ride a bike

50
Q

Tropism

A

Growth response of a plant to a stimulus

51
Q

Unicellular

A

Made of one cell

52
Q

Waste Lagoon

A

body of water used to dispose of animal wastes on farms; these become problematic when they flood into rivers/drinking water supplies