VOCAB BIO Flashcards
trynna pass this test
Homeostasis
Regulation of an Organisms internal conditions to maintain life
Peer review
The process in which an experiment and it’s results is evaluated by another student who is conducting similar research.
Hypothesis
A testable explanation of a situation
Dependent variable
Depends on the changes to the independant variable
Independent Variable
the tested factor that might affect the outcome of the experiment
Control group
The group that does not receive the factor being tested
Experimental Group
The Group receiving the factor being tested
Biota
The organisms that live in a specific environment
Abiota
The non-living parts of an ecosystem
Population
the number of a single species that share the same geographical location
Community
Groups of interacting populations that live in the same location at the same time
Biome/Ecosystem
A Biological community and all the abiotic factors that affect it.
A BIOME is a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and similar communities
Competition
the interaction between two or more organisms need a resource that is in limited supply
Symbiosis
The close relationship between two or more species living together.
Mutualism
Symbiosis when both species benefit
Commensalism
Symbiosis where one species benefits and the other is not helped or harmed
Paristitism
Symbiosis where one organism benefits at the expense of another.
Autotroph
An organism that collects energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to make food. Producers
Heterotroph
an organism that gets its energy from eating other organisms. Consumers or animals
Saprotroph
An organism that feeds on non-living organic matter (Decomposers)
Herbovore
A Heterotroph that eats only plants
Carnivore
A Heterotroph that eats other heterotrophs (animals)
Omnivore
Heterotroph that eats both plants and animals
Detritavore
Eat fragments of dead matter
Pyramid of Energy
A Model used by ecologists to show the amount of energy at each trophic level. each level decreases by 90%. Read it on Pg. 44 (it makes more sense in the book)
Pyramid of Biomass
Each level represents the amount of biomass consumed by the level above it. Read it on Pg.44 (it makes more sense in the book)
Pyramid of Numbers
Each level represents the number of individual organisms consumed by the level above it. Read it on Pg.44 (it makes more sense in the book)
Evaporation
The process of turning liquid water into vapor
Condensation
the process of turning vapor into liquid
Transpiration
the physiological loss of water from plants through evaporation.
Precipitation
water that falls to the ground in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Percolation
when water runs down through the soil due to gravity
Runoff
occurs when water runs on the surface because there is more than the land can absorb
Deposition
The laying down of sediment by water, wind, or ice
Respiration
the action of breathing.
Sedimentation
the process of settling of sediment
Diffusion
The dispersing of something more widely
Nitrogen Fixation
Capturing and converting Nitrogen into a form usable by plants
Nitrification
Where organisms in the soil convert ammonia into nitrogen compounds that are used by plants
Denitrification
where soil organisms turn fixed nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas
Limiting Factor
Any abiotic or biotic factor that limits population, reproduction, or distribution of organisms. Ex. fire, sunlight, heat etc
Succession
when one community replaces another
Climax Community
occurs when there is a mature stable community with little change in species composition (ecosystem)
Weather
condition of the atmosphere at a specific time/place
Climate
the average weather conditions in an area
Plankton
an organism that is carried by tides or current because it is not strong enough to swim
Density Dependent Factor
any factor that DOES depend on the number of members in a population area Ex. competition, parisites,
Density Independent Factor
any factor that does not depend on the number of members in a population. ex abiotic factors like fire, weather, temp
Exponential Growth
a model that shows greater increase over passing time
Carrying Capacity
Maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support long term
Biomass
The total weight of organisms in a given area
