Biology Term Review: Trade-offs, Homeostasis, Metabolism

This set of flashcards includes essential vocabulary terms related to trade-offs, homeostasis, and metabolism, aiding in the understanding of key biological concepts.

Homeostasis

The regulation of internal conditions within an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life, including energy production.

Trade-offs

Decisions made by organisms to prioritize certain traits or functions over others based on environmental conditions.

Fecundity

The reproductive capacity of an organism, often measured by the number of offspring produced.

Growth

The increase in size or mass of an organism; can be influenced by environmental factors.

Longevity

The length of time an organism lives; can be affected by environmental conditions and life history strategies.

Acclimation

The physiological adjustment of an organism to changes in its environment over a short time.

Adaptation

A genetic change in a population over time that enhances survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Ectotherm

An organism that relies primarily on external environmental heat sources to regulate its body temperature.

Endotherm

An organism that generates its own heat to maintain its body temperature, independent of the environment.

Poikilotherm

An organism whose body temperature fluctuates with environmental conditions.

Homeotherm

An organism that maintains a constant internal body temperature regardless of external conditions.

Stenotherm

An organism that can only survive within a very narrow range of environmental temperatures.

Convection

The transfer of heat through fluid motion, typically seen in air or water.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct contact between materials.

Radiation

The transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure and helps preserve body heat.

Bradycardia

A slower than normal heart rate, often seen during diving in mammals to conserve heat.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Chemosynthesis

The process by which certain organisms create energy by oxidizing inorganic substances, rather than using sunlight.

Niche Partitioning

The process by which competing species use the environment differently to coexist.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

The principle stating that two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist at constant population values.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which results in changes in ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling.

Functional Response

The relationship between the density of prey and the rate of prey capture by a predator.