sci 100 final

why is water imporant for all organisms

universal solvent, maintains temp, maintains cell structure

prokaryotic cells

single cell organisms with no nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

eukaryotic cells

complex cells with membrane bound nucleus found in plants and animals

phosopholipid molecule

molecule with water loving (hydrophilic) and water fearing (hydrophobic) parts which act as the building block of cell membranes

the head of a phosopholipid molecule

part that is hydrophilic

the tails of a phosopholipid molecule

part that is hydrophobic

cholesterol

found in hydrophobic region that stabilizes the membrane and helps maintain fluidity across varying temps

Glycolipids

attached to carbohydrates and aids cell-cell recognition

integral proteins

spans entire membrane and acts as a channel/transporter

peripheral proteins

functions as structural support

carbohydrates

Located on the exterior surface of membrane and attaches to proteins

Fluid Mosaic Model of a cell membrane

the cell membrane is a dynamic and flexible bilayer of phospholipids embedded with proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol

cell membrane

a flexible protective boundary around all living cells and maintaining homeostasis by regulating what enters and exits

semi-permeable

barrier that allows small molecules/ions to pass through while blocking others

diffusion

movement of particles to a high concentration area to a low concentration area

osmosis

movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration

hypertonic

a solution has a higher concentration of solute compared to the cell

hypotonic

the solution has a lower concentration of solute compared to the cell

isotonic

the solution has the same concentration as the cell

osmosis in cells with walls (bacteria)

prevents bursting of walls

osmosis in cells without walls (animals/plants)

water enters the cell causing it to swell and burst

the importance of water balance to living cells because of osmosis

balance allows for cells to maintain proper shape and function and preventing waster from accumulating

the role of osmosis in cholera

the mechanism responsible for severe dehydration and diarrhea due to an osmotic imbalance

the effects of temperature and solute concentration
on the rate of osmosis

higher temps and greater solute increase the rate of osmosis

species

an individual organism thats related to a group of organisms that can reproduce

population

group of individuals of the same species living in the same geographic area

community

all populations of species that live within the same area and interact with each other

ecosystem

biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) interactions within an environment

1st trophic level - primary producers

organisms that make their own food

2nd trophic level - primary consumers

animals that eat primary producers (herbivores)

3rd trophic level - secondary consumers

animals that eat primary consumers

4th trophic level - tertiary consumers

animals that prey on secondary consumers

decomposers and detritivores

animals that break down dead material from all levels

the 10% rule

a certain percent of the energy stored is passed onto the next trophic level

competition

both species are harmed as they compete for resources

predation

one species kills the other

symbiosis

long term interaction between species

mutualism

relationship where both species benefit

parasitism

one species benefits from species while harms the other

keystone species

organism that helps define an entire ecosystem and maintaining community structure

eliminating a keystone species

a dramatic, disasterous restructuring of an ecosystem

invasive species

non-native plants or animals that cause ecological or human health harm

genetic biodiversity

variations in DNA among individuals within a population/species

species diversity

the number of and abundance of different species in a specific ecosystem/area

ecosystem diversity

the variety of habitats in a given region

biodiversity and ecosystem stability

thing that is critical for maintaining ecosystem stability - acts as an insurance policy

biodiversity hot spot

region with high levels of biodiversity but is threatened by human activity

current species extinction

hundreds or thousands of times higher than baseline rate

habitat loss

conversion of natural land for agriculture or urbanization

climate change

changing temps and weather which shift ecosystems and alter species survival rates

overexploitation

unsustainable harvesting of natural resources

pollution

contamination of air, soil, and water

benefits of biodiversity

climate stabilization, ecosystem stability, medicines, disease regulation, etc.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates and water quality

organisms sensitive to pollution, have limited mobility, and can reveal long term environmental stress

bioaccumulation

buildup of toxic chemicals within a single organism over time

biomagnification

buildup of toxic chemicals in the food chain over time

endocrine disrupters

chemicals that cause mutations in marine and on-land life through imitating natural hormones

clean water act

increased safety of water and reduced pollution

burning fossil fuels

coal, oil, and natural gases burned for energy

deforestation

clearing land for agricultural development

agriculture and livestock

activities that produce a lot of methane and nitrous oxide

industrial processes

manufacturing that releases trapped gases

carbon dioxide

responsible for majority of climate change

methane

highly potent greenhouse gas with a shorter atmospheric life

nitrous oxide

gas that accumulates from decades to centuries

greenhouse effect

natural process where atmospheric gases trap heat radiating from Earth towards space

evolution

the change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over generations

how evolution works

the change in inherited traits within a gene pool over generations and NOT the modificaiton of a single organisms genetics

genetic variation

individual differences in DNA traits

heritability

traits that are passed to offspring

natural selection

organisms adapt better to their environment causing them to survive vs. others who cannot adapt