Bio 111 Final

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Organismal Ecology

Study of individual adaptations and interactions with the environment.

Population

Group of individuals of the same species living in an area.

Community

All populations of different species living together.

Ecosystem

A community plus its abiotic environment.

Biome

Large ecological region defined by climate and dominant organisms.

Biosphere

All ecosystems on Earth.

Biotic Factor

Living component of an ecosystem.

Abiotic Factor

Nonliving component of an ecosystem.

Habitat

Physical location where an organism lives.

Niche

The role of a species in its environment.

Producer

Organism that makes its own food.

Consumer

Organism that obtains energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposer

Organism that breaks down dead organic matter.

Food Chain

Pathway of energy movement through organisms.

Food Web

Network of interconnected food chains.

Trophic Level

Position in a food chain.

Competition

Organisms competing for limited resources.

Predation

One organism consumes another.

Mutualism

Both species benefit.

Commensalism

One species benefits while the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

One species benefits while the other is harmed.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size an environment can support.

Limiting Factor

Resource or condition that restricts population growth.

Exponential Growth

Rapid population increase under ideal conditions.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that slows near carrying capacity.

Climate

Long-term weather patterns.

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of Earth's climate.

Greenhouse Effect

Process where atmospheric gases trap heat.

Greenhouse Gas

Gas that absorbs infrared radiation and traps heat.

Carbon Dioxide

Major greenhouse gas produced by respiration and combustion.

Methane

Potent greenhouse gas.

Carbon Cycle

Movement of carbon through Earth's systems.

Carbon Sink

Long-term carbon storage reservoir.

Fossil Fuel

Coal, oil, or natural gas formed from ancient organisms.

Combustion

Burning fuel and releasing carbon dioxide.

Biodiversity

Variety of living organisms.

Mass Extinction

Event where many species disappear in a short time.

Anthropocene Mass Extinction

Current extinction event driven largely by human activity.

Photosynthesis

Process that converts light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis Equation

6CO2 + 6H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Chloroplast

Organelle where photosynthesis occurs.

Chlorophyll

Pigment that captures sunlight.

Calvin Cycle

Photosynthesis reactions that build sugars.

Glucose

Simple sugar produced by photosynthesis.

Cellular Respiration

Process that converts glucose into ATP.

ATP

Main energy currency of cells.

Mitochondria

Organelle where cellular respiration occurs.

Glycolysis

First stage of respiration occurring in the cytoplasm.

Pyruvate

Product of glycolysis.

Krebs Cycle

Cycle that produces electron carriers in mitochondria.

Electron Transport Chain

Produces most ATP during respiration.

Aerobic Respiration

Respiration requiring oxygen.

Anaerobic Respiration

Respiration without oxygen.

Fermentation

Process that regenerates NAD+ without oxygen.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Fermentation used by muscle cells.

Alcoholic Fermentation

Fermentation used by yeast.

Virus

Obligate intracellular parasite.

Capsid

Protein coat surrounding viral genetic material.

Envelope

Outer membrane found on some viruses.

Influenza

RNA virus with H and N surface proteins.

Hemagglutinin (H)

Influenza protein that binds host-cell receptors.

Neuraminidase (N)

Influenza protein that helps spread infection.

COVID-19

Disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Antigenic Drift

Small mutations accumulating over time.

Antigenic Shift

Large genetic change producing new viral strains.

Immune System

System that protects against pathogens.

Pathogen

Disease-causing organism or particle.

Lymph Node

Filters pathogens from lymph fluid.

Red Bone Marrow

Site of blood cell production and B-cell maturation.

Thymus

Site of T-cell maturation.

Spleen

Filters blood.

B Cell

Lymphocyte that produces antibodies.

T Cell

Lymphocyte involved in cell-mediated immunity.

Helper T Cell

Coordinates immune responses.

Cytotoxic T Cell

Kills infected cells.

Antibody

Protein that binds a specific antigen.

Antigen

Molecule recognized by the immune system.

Memory Cell

Long-lived immune cell responsible for faster future responses.

Innate Immunity

Nonspecific immune defense.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific immune defense.

Vaccine

Preparation that stimulates immunity.

Herd Immunity

Population-level protection against disease spread.

MHC-I

Cell-surface marker identifying self cells.

Natural Killer Cell

Immune cell that destroys abnormal cells.

Evolution

Change in allele frequencies over time.

Allele

Alternative version of a gene.

Gene

Segment of DNA affecting a trait.

Natural Selection

Process favoring advantageous traits.

Adaptation

Inherited trait that increases fitness.

Fitness

Ability to survive and reproduce.

Variation

Differences among individuals.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence.

Gene Flow

Movement of alleles between populations.

Genetic Drift

Random change in allele frequencies.

Founder Effect

Genetic drift caused by a small starting population.

Bottleneck Effect

Genetic drift after a major population reduction.

Speciation

Formation of new species.

Homologous Structures

Similar structures due to common ancestry.