Unit 1: The Nature of Biology and Ecology Flashcards
Acid Rain
Precipitation that is the result of air pollution reacting with water molecules in the atmosphere leading to the destruction of forest and lake ecosystems
Animalia
Organisms in this kingdom are multicellular heterotrophs without cell walls
Autotroph
An organism that can make its own food; aka producer; one example is plants (by photosynthesis)
Binomial Nomenclature
Two-word naming system for all organisms developed by Linnaeus; gives the scientific name (consisting of genus and species); ex. Homo sapiens
Bioaccumulation
the increase in concentration of pollutants in the tissues of organisms as you move up trophic levels in an ecosystem; aka biomagnification
Carbon Cycle
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.
Carrying Capacity
Largest number of individuals of a population that an environment can support
Camouflage
An adaptation that enables a species to blend in with its environment
Cell
Smallest unit of life
Class
A group of closely related orders
Classical Conditioning
Learning by association; ex. Pavlov’s dog salivating at the sound of a bell
Classification
The process of grouping organisms based on their physical similarities and DNA
Competition
the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources
Climate Change
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
Consumer
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms; aka “heterotroph”
Courtship
Behavior used to attract a mate
Decomposer
organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter; an organism that carries out decomposition
Deforestation
The destruction of forests
Dichotomous Key
A series of paired statements used to help identify an organism
Eubacteria
kingdom that includes bacteria that live everywhere (except in extreme environments)
Domain
the largest taxon; there are 3–Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
Eutrophication
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
Eukaryote
a cell that has a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles
Exponential Growth
j-shaped, explosive pattern of population growth
External Fertilization
process in which eggs are fertilized outside the female’s body; ex. most fish
Family
A group of closely related genera
Fossil Fuels
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
Fungi
kingdom that includes organisms which are heterotrophs that have cell walls made of chitin; molds, yeasts, and mushrooms are examples
Genus
A Group of closely related species
Greenhouse effect
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
Habitat Destruction
The loss of natural habitat for species that can lead to extinction
Habituation
an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
Heterotroph
an organism that must get food from its environment; aka consumer; one example is animals
Hibernation
A period of inactivity that some animals experience in winter that allows them to survive on stored body fat
Imprinting
the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life
Limiting Factor
an environmental condition that restricts the size of a population; examples include: disease, predation, and natural disasters
Kingdom
second largest taxonomic group, consisting of closely related phyla
Multicellular
Made of two or more cells
Mutualism
symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit; ex. good bacteria in the human gut
Internal Fertilization
Process in which eggs are fertilized inside the female’s body; ex. humans
Invasive/Non-Native Species
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
Nitrogen Cycle
transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
process of converting nitrogen in the air, into a form that plants and animals can use (nitrates and nitrites)
Order
A group of closely related families
Non-Native Species
a species that is not naturally found in an ecosystem, and that does not hinder the survival of other species there
Parasitism
form of symbiosis in which one organism, the parasite, benefits and the other organism, the host, is harmed; ex. tick and a dog
Organism
A living thing
Phylum
an organ in the uterus of a pregnant mammal, that nourishes the fetus through the umbilical cord
Plantae
kingdom with organisms that are photosynthetic autotrophs and have cell walls made of cellulose
Predator
An animal that hunts other animals for food
Prey
an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food
Pheromone
a chemical released by one animal that affects the behavior of another animal of the same species
Producer
an organism that can make its own food; aka “autotroph”
Protista
the most diverse kingdom; some are plant-like, some are animal-like, and some are fungus-like; examples include: euglena, paramecium, and amoeba
Prokaryote
a bacterial cell; a cell that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles
Seed
a plant structure that contains an embryo & food source surrounded by a protective coat
Species
the smallest/most specific taxon; a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Spore
a reproductive cell with a hard, protective coating; made by bacteria, fungi, and some plants like ferns
Stewardship
commitment to the responsible management of natural resources and sustainable actions to help preserve the environment
Suckling
When a young mammal nurses from its mother
Symbiosis
A close relationship between two species living together
Taxis
Movement toward or away from a stimulus
Taxonomy
branch of biology that involves classifying organisms into groups based upon similar characteristics
Territoriality
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
Trial and Error Learning
behavior in which an animal learns to perform a behavior over and over again until success is achieved; ex. learning to ride a bike
Tropism
Growth response of a plant to a stimulus
Unicellular
Made of one cell
Waste Lagoon
body of water used to dispose of animal wastes on farms; these become problematic when they flood into rivers/drinking water supplies
