Ecology - Adaptations and Homeostasis

Adaptation

A trait that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its current environment.

Viscosity

The thickness of a fluid that causes objects to encounter resistance as they move through it.

Buoyancy

The ability of an object to float in a fluid.

Pressure

The force exerted on a surface by the weight of the fluid above it.

Gills

Organs in aquatic organisms that allow them to extract oxygen from water.

Countercurrent flow

The flow of blood and water in opposite directions, maximizing the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in gills.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain constant internal, physical, and chemical conditions within a living system.

Negative feedback loops

Regulatory mechanisms that maintain homeostasis by reversing any deviations from the desired set point.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high solvent concentration to an area of low solvent concentration.1. Adaptations:Unique characteristics or traits that help organisms survive in different environments.

Salmon

Fish that are born in freshwater streams and rivers, migrate to the ocean, and return to their original stream to mate, spawn, and die.

Hypoosmotic

Conditions where the surrounding environment has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the organism's body fluids.

Hyperosmotic

Conditions where the surrounding environment has a higher concentration of solutes compared to the organism's body fluids.

Red mangroves

Trees adapted to live along ocean coasts, with roots that grow into saltwater and glands that actively remove salt from the water.

Salting roads

The process of adding salt to roads to melt ice, which can have an effect on biological organisms.

Wood frogs

A type of frog that can tolerate freezing temperatures and survive in cold environments.

Spotted salamanders

A type of salamander that can tolerate freezing temperatures and survive in cold environments.