advantageous
providing an advantage
empirical
relying on hard data
fauna
animal life
flora
plant life
hierarchy (adj. hierarchical)
system of rank; opposite of egalitarian
isotope
alternative form of an element
indigenous
native
inhibit
prevent, impede (e.g. a response)
metabolism
the process of converting food to energy
methodology
system of methods or procedures
microbial
relating to microscopic organisms
pigment
color
predisposed
having a tendency toward
regenerate
regrow
replicate
repeat with the same result
saturate
to become completely soaked with
simulation
realistic (computer) model
stimulus (pl. stimuli)
something that provokes a specific response
symbiosis (adj. symbiotic)
interaction between two organisms living close together, benefits both
taxonomy
classification system
trait
characteristic
vegetation
plants (not vegetables)
velocity
speed
astronomy
study of stars and planets
botany
study of plants
cognitive science, neuroscience
science of the brain
ecology
study of the natural world
entomology
study of insects
epidemiology
study of diseases and public health
genetics
study of genes
geology
study of rocks
ornithology
study of birds
paleontology
study of fossils
zoology
study of animals
anthropology
study of human behavior and social organization, usually on a large scale; can include linguistics, biology, and archaeology
archaeology
study of historical human activity through the recovery or excavation (digging up) of physical objects
economics
study of monetary systems
ethnography
study of individual cultures
folklore
study of traditional stories and myths
sociology
study of everyday human social behavior and interactions at a specific time