Untitled Flashcards Set

acid deposition

the deposit of acid to land and water through acidic rain, snow, or sleet

adhesion

the tendency of unlike molecules to cling together because of attractive forces

biodiversity

a variety in the number and kind of species in a given area

biogeochemical cycle

a diagram representing the movement of elements and compounds between living and non-living components of an ecosystem

biomagnification

the buildup of harmful chemicals in higher trophic levels (top predators)

biosphere

all areas on Earth that can sustain life and are inhabited by organisms (air, water, land)

carbon sink

a system that removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases into the atmosphere

chemosynthesis

the process by which certain fungi and bacteria use the energy from chemical nutrients to chemically convert carbon (inorganic) into carbohydrates (organic)

cohesion

inter-molecular attraction between like-molecules of a substance

conservationist

someone who advocates saving and/or conserving natural resources

consumers

organisms that must obtain their food (energy) by eating other organisms (producers or consumers); also called heterotrophs

denitrification

the process of converting nitrates in the soil into nitrogen gas

denitrifying bacteria

a type of soil bacteria that converts nitrates in soil into nitrogen gas, releasing this gas to the atmosphere

ecological footprint

an analysis of human consumption of natural resources compared to the ability of Earth to recreate them

equilibrium

all living components of the biosphere (e.g., humans, bacteria, plants) balance in a system; no net change over time

eutrophication

excessive plant growth and decay caused by an excessive amount of chemical nutrients

first law of thermodynamics

energy in a system cannot be created nor destroyed; it changes forms

food chain

a diagram or model that shows how food (energy) transfers from producers to primary consumers to higher trophic levels

food web

a diagram or model that shows the connections among food chains in an ecosystem

heat capacity

the amount of heat energy (J) required to change the temperature of one gram of substance by 1°C

limiting factor

any biotic or abiotic factor that controls or limits the functioning of an organism

nitrification

the process of converting ammonia into nitrates or nitrites

nitrifying bacteria

a type of soil bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrates and nitrites

nitrogen fixation

the process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

peat

deep layers of mosses and plant remains unable to completely decompose due to the lack of oxygen in water-saturated soil

photoautotrophs

photosynthetic producers

photosynthesis

the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use solar energy to convert carbon (inorganic) into carbohydrates (organic)

producers

organisms that are able to produce their own food (energy) by harnessing chemical or solar energy; also called autotrophs

trophic level

describes the feeding level through which matter and energy are transferred; indicates an organism’s position in the food chain

adaptation

a beneficial variation that helps an organism survive

allopatric

speciation that occurs from a geographical barrier

analogous structures

body parts in different species that have similar functions but evolved separately

barrier

anything that prevents organisms from reproducing

biogeography

the study of the past and present geographical distribution of species

biological barrier

a factor such as behaviour that keeps species reproductively isolated even in the same region

divergence

the development of one or more new species from a parent species as a result of mutation and adaptation to changing conditions

embryology

the study of similar features in embryos and evolutionary relationships

fossils

the remains of past life found in sedimentary rock

geographical barrier

geological formations that keep organisms separated

gradualism

the theory that evolution occurs slowly and steadily in a linear fashion

homologous structures

body parts in different species that have the same evolutionary origins but may have different functions

hypothesis

a statement that provides one possible answer to a question or explanation for an observation

inheritance of acquired characteristics

a theory that characteristics acquired during an organism’s lifetime could be passed to its offspring

mutagen

something that causes an increased rate of mutation

mutation

a change in the genetic material of an organism (DNA)

natural selection

the process that results in population changes as certain traits help survival and reproduction

paleontology

the study of ancient life through fossils

punctuated equilibrium

the theory that suggests evolutionary history consists of long periods of stability interrupted by periods of divergence

selective advantage

an organism’s variations that increase its chances of surviving

selective disadvantage

an organism’s variations that reduce its chances of surviving

selective pressure

environmental conditions that influence which traits are favored or disfavored

sexual selection

a type of natural selection based on mate preferences

speciation

the formation of new species

strata

a layer of rock or soil that has a consistent character and is distinct from adjacent layers

transformation

the evolution of one species into another due to mutation and adaptation

transitional fossil

remains or impressions of organisms that show intermediary links between groups

variation

visible or invisible differences between individuals

viable offspring

offspring that are healthy and able to reproduce

acetyl CoA

an oxidized form of glucose

active transport

a process that requires energy from ATP to move substances against the concentration gradient

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

a high-energy phosphate molecule that stores energy for cellular functions

ATP synthase

an enzyme that forms ATP by bonding free phosphates to ADP

biofuel

ethanol produced during the fermentation of biomass

biogas

methane captured from animal waste used as fuel

Calvin-Benson cycle

the process by which photosynthetic organisms fix carbon to produce carbohydrates

CAM

crassulacean acid metabolism, a carbon fixation pathway in some plants

carbon-dioxide fixation

a carbon atom in CO2 is chemically bonded to a pre-existing 5-carbon compound in chloroplasts

chemiosmosis

the process of generating ATP through proton gradient movement

diffusion

the movement of molecules from high to low concentration

endocytosis

a process in which cell membranes engulf a substance and pinch off inside the cell

exocytosis

a process where a vacuole fuses with the cell wall to release contents outside the cell

facilitated diffusion

the movement of larger molecules needing help from proteins to cross cell membranes

FADH2

an important coenzyme produced during the Krebs cycle acting as an electron donor

glucose

a sugar that can link to form different carbohydrate types

glycolysis

a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to form two 3-carbon molecules and ATP

Krebs cycle

a series of reactions breaking down glycolysis products to produce carbon dioxide and ATP

metabolism

all chemical reactions in a cell that support its life functions

NADH

a high-energy electron carrier that acts as an electron donor

NADP+

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in its oxidized state

NADPH

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in its reduced state, used in glucose formation

osmosis

the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane

oxidation

a loss of electrons

passive transport

no energy required for movement across membranes

phagocytosis

a process where the cell wall engulfs large particles and pinches off inside the cell

phosphoglyceraldehyde (PGAL)

a high-energy compound used to synthesize glucose

phosphorylation

the process of adding a phosphate to a molecule, occurring in respiration and photosynthesis

photosystem

a cluster of light-absorbing pigments in chloroplast thylakoid membranes

pinocytosis

a process where the cell wall engulfs liquids and their solutes

proton

a hydrogen ion containing one electron

pyruvate

three carbon molecules produced by glycolysis

redox reaction

a reaction involving electron transfer

reduction

a gain of electrons

reference flow

a measure of distance a substance is transported in chromatography

ribulose biphosphate (RuBP)

a 5-carbon molecule that initially bonds to carbon dioxide

thylakoid membrane

flattened stacks within the stroma that contain chlorophyll

VO2 max

a measure of an athlete's ability to use oxygen during activity.