Vocab Flashcards
Independent Variable
a variable (often denoted by x ) whose variation does not depend on that of another.
Dependent Variable
a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value depends on that of another.
Control Group
The control group is defined as the group in an experiment or study that does not receive treatment by the researchers and is then used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is a term that is used to both describe the survival of organisms in an ecosystem and to describe the successful survival of cells inside of an organism. Organisms and populations can maintain homeostasis in an environment when they have a steady level of births and deaths.
Hypothesis
A scientific hypothesis is the initial building block in the scientific method. Many describe it as an “educated guess,” based on prior knowledge and observation. While this is true, the definition can be expanded. A hypothesis also includes an explanation of why the guess may be correct, according to National Science Teachers Association.
Biology
The study of all living things.
Organisms
Indivisual plant, animal, or single celled form.
Cell
the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. Cells are the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and are often called the “building blocks of life”. The study of cells is called cell biology.
Evolve
Changing over time
Cytoplasm
A living material inside the cell
Prokaryotic cells
Doesnt have a nucleus or memebrane- bound organelles
Eukaryotes
Have true nucleus and memebrane bound organelles
Unicellular organisms
Living organism made up of one cell
Multicellular organisms
Living organism made up of many specialized cells
Zygote
Fertilized egg
DNA ( deox yribose nucleic acid )
Carries the genetic code for all organisms
Proteins
DNA codes for in a cell
Photoautotroph
Uses sunlight to make food example plants
Chemoautotroph
Uses chemicals like iron and sulfur as energy
Heterotrophs
Consumes other organisms
Herbivores
Eats plants
Carnivores
Eats meat
Omnivores
Eats both plants and meat.
Matebolism
Sum of all chemical reactions in an organism
Photosynthesis
metabolic process that uses sunlight for energy
Cellular Respiration
Metabolic process that releases the chemical energy stored in food.
Tissue
In biology, tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organ.
Biosphere
The most inclusive level of life. (Covering all)
Biotic
The biotic factors in an environment include the organisms themselves as well as such items as predation, competition for food resources, and symbiotic relationships. Compare abiotic.
Abiotic
In biology and ecology, abiotic components or abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. Abiotic factors and phenomena associated with them underpin all biology.
Habitat
the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
Niche
refers to the way in which an organism fits into an ecological community or ecosystem.
Ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Consumer
A heterotrophic organism that feeds on other organisms in a food chain. ◇ Herbivores that feed on green plants and detritivores that feed on decaying matter are called primary consumers.
Producer
An autotrophic organism that serves as a source of food for other organisms in a food chain. Producers include green plants, which produce food through photosynthesis,
Ecology
Our definition of ecology is: The scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and the transformation and flux of energy and matter.
Energy Pyramid
An energy pyramid is the graphical representation of the trophic levels (nutritional) by which the incoming solar energy is transferred into an ecosystem. The source of energy for living beings on Earth is the Sun.
Food Web
noun, Ecology. 1. a series of organisms related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions; the entirety of interrelated food chains in an ecological community. Also called food cycle.
Decomposer
organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, and in doing so, carry out the natural process of decomposition.
Biodiversity
Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact.
Food Chain
A feeding hierarchy in which organisms in an ecosystem are grouped into trophic (nutritional) levels and are shown in a succession to represent the flow of food energy and the feeding relationships between them.
Symbiosis
A long term relationship
Mutualism
the doctrine that mutual dependence is necessary to social well-being.
Commensalism
an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.
Parasitism
Parasitism is a relationship between two things in which one of them (the parasite) benefits from or lives off of the other, like fleas on your dog. Parasitism and its root, parasite, come from para-, meaning “beside” or “next to,” and sito, meaning “bread or food.”
