Control Group
a group that isn't experimented on, typically used for baseline data
Dependent Variable
the variable that responds to the independent variable, typically where you get data from
Experimental Group
a group where one factor is changed to get data for the experiment
Hypothesis
a possible explanation for a set of observation
Independent variable
the changed variable to get results from the experiment
Observation
a careful viewing of something to collect data
Qualitative Data
data that has to do with qualities
Quantitative Data
data that has to do with numbers
Variable
something that can change or be changed
Theory
a well tested explanation that explains a set of observations, can be retested and changed
Homeostasis
constant internal conditions that organisms maintain
Metabolism
the combination of chemical reactions through which organisms break down materials
Stimulus
signals to which an organism responds
Abiotic Factor
a nonalive factor that in any given environment
Biosphere
the part of earth where life exists
Biotic Factor
a living factor of any given environment
Community
assemblage of populations that live together in a defined area
Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
Ecosystem
all the organisms in that live in a place along with their nonliving environment
Organism
a living thing made of one or more cells
Population
a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
Autotroph
an organism that makes its own food from its environment
Carnivore
an organism whose system is made to eat meat, an organism that eats meat
Decomposer
an organism that breaks down and receives food from dead matter
Herbivore
an organism whose system is made to eat plants, an organism that eats plants
Heterotroph
an organism that gets its food from other organisms
Omnivore
an organism that can eat plants and other organisms
Photosynthesis
the process by which plants make their own food by converting light energy into chemical energy
Primary Producer
an organism that makes its own food and other organisms feed on
10% Rule
only ten percent of energy is transferred through each trophic level
Ecological Pyramid
an illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter in each trophic level
Primary Consumer
a consumer that eats plants, herbivores
Food Chain
a series of steps in a ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
Food Web
a network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relations among the organisms in an ecosystem
Secondary Consumer
the first level that eats meat in a food chain
Trophic Level
each step in a food chain or food web
Charistics of Life
the set of characteristics that an organism must have in order to considered alive
Predator
an organism that eats consumers
Prey
an organism that is eaten by other organisms