African Elephants Unit Topics

Exponential Growth

A growth pattern where the population increases rapidly in proportion to its size.

Logistic Growth

A growth pattern that starts exponentially but slows as the population reaches carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Limiting Factor

Any resource or condition that restricts the growth of a population.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Indicator Species

Species that provide a sign of the quality of the ecosystem's environmental conditions.

Selective Advantage

A trait that increases an organism's chance of survival and reproduction.

Selection pressure

An environmental factor that influences which individuals survive and reproduce.

Natural Selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Density-Dependent

Factors that affect population growth in relation to the population density.

Density-independent

Factors that affect population growth regardless of population density.

Abiotic factor

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment.

Biotic factor

Living components of an ecosystem that affect other organisms.

Keystone species

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

DNA Fragments

Pieces of DNA that are generated during the process of DNA analysis.

Gel electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments based on their size.

DNA profiling

A method used to identify individuals by their unique DNA characteristics.

Niche partitioning

Division of resources among species to reduce competition.

Photosynthesis

Process converting light energy into chemical energy.

Cellular Respiration

Metabolic process converting glucose into ATP.

Organism

Individual living entity capable of growth and reproduction.

Population

Group of individuals of the same species in an area.

Ecosystem

Community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Community

Group of different species living in the same area.

Mitosis

Cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells.

Reactants

Substances consumed in a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances produced in a chemical reaction.

Cytokinesis

Division of the cytoplasm during cell division.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle containing genetic material.

Cytoplasm

Fluid inside the cell, excluding the nucleus.

Chromatid

One half of a duplicated chromosome.

Cell Cycle

Series of phases leading to cell division.

Chromatin

Complex of DNA and proteins in the nucleus.

Interphase

Phase of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division.

Immigration

Movement of individuals into a population.

Emigration

Movement of individuals out of a population.

Population Growth Factors

Birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

Density Dependent Factors

Population effects influenced by population size.

Density Independent Factors

Population effects not influenced by population size.

Reactants of Photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide and water are required inputs.

Products of Photosynthesis

Glucose and oxygen are produced outputs.

Reactants of Cellular Respiration

Glucose and oxygen are required inputs.

Products of Cellular Respiration

Carbon dioxide, water, and ATP are produced