Abeka Biology Chapters 15-16

habitat

an organism's environment or home

herbivorous

mammals including elephants, manatees, and ungulates

lagomorphs

rabbits, hares, and pikas

abiotic

factors of this type in the ecosystem include atmosphere, temperature, and wind

omnivore

a consumer that feeds on both plants and animals

neritic zone

ecological zone of the ocean that is home to the coral reef system and supports the commercial fish industry

sessile

animals that are attached to a single location but are able to move the environment toward themselves for the purpose of trapping food

rodents

gnawing mammals such as mice, beavers, and squirrels

uterus

embryos of viviparous mammals develop in a special muscular organ

mammals

characterized by bilateral symmetry; have hair, four-chambered heart, and mammary glands

antlers

made of solid bone and are shed every year

apes

primates without tails

artiodactyls

even-toed ungulates such as cattle, sheep, and deer

first trophic level

plants are on this level of the food chain

hibernate

when a mammal enters a dormant state during the winter in which its body temperature falls to near freezing point

hydrologic cycle

evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are the three major processes of this cycle

pioneer species

the first organisms that colonize a disturbed ecosystems

ruminants

animals which "chew the cud" and have a special four-chambered stomach for the digestion of cellulose

blue whale

an example of a baleen whale; largest animal of all

primates

apes, monkeys, and lemurs are examples

amensalism

a relationship between two organisms in which one inhibits the other

commensalism

a relationship between two organisms in which one is benefited and the other is neither harmed nor helped

competition

a relationship in which a hawk and an eagle compete for rodents

mutualism

a relationship between two organisms in which both benefit

parasitism

a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is harmed

predation

a relationship between two organisms like a hawk capturing a rabbit

ecology

study of how living things interact with one another and with their physical environment

niche

an organism's function or "occupation" is referred to by ecologists

ecosystems

fall into two general categories, aquatic and terrestrial

vertebrates

animals with backbone; bilateral symmetry; and an internal skeleton

estuary

marine ecosystem where nutrient-rich freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with seawater

biogeochemical cycle

include atmospheric, hydrologic, and sedimentary

bovids

include cattle

tetrapods

vertebrates with four appendages

alpine tundra

biome at high mountain altitudes

aquatic

biome divided into two major divisions: marine and freshwater

arctic tundra

biome having long, harsh winters, with freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and high winds

desert

the hottest and driest biomes of the world

grassland

prairies, plains, African savannas, Russian steppes, and the pampas of Argentina are examples of this biome

northern coniferous forest

biome having harsh winters and long summers, permafrost is rare, and is located throughout much of Canada and northern Europe

temperate deciduous forest

biome having well-defined seasons and sufficient precipitation to support large trees and diverse animal species

tropical rain forest

biome found near the equator line and is characterized by abundant rainfall

marsupials

mammals that raise their young in special abdominal pouches

nocturnal

animals that are active at night

homeothermic

animals that regulate their temperature by internal mechanisms and maintain a stable body temperature regardless of their environment

tusks

enlarged, spearlike incisor teeth of an elephant

bear

largest land-dwelling carnivore

capybara

largest rodent

elephant

largest living land animal

kangaroo

largest living marsupial

manatee

also known as "sea cow"

platypus

venomous, egg-laying mammal with a ducklike bill and webbed feet

sloth

slowest land mammal

placenta

mass of specialized tissue and blood vessels by which a developing mammal embryo is nourished

insectivores

shrews, moles, and hedgehogs

ungulates

animals with hooves

perissodactyls

odd-toed ungulates such as rhinoceroses, horses, and tapirs