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