Amniotes and Angiosperms Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to amniotes, angiosperms, and their adaptations for life on land.

Amniotes

Vertebrates whose embryos develop with an amnion, including mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Amnion

A membrane that protects the embryo from drying out and allows for water reproduction on land.

Osmoregulation

The regulation of water balance and ion balance in the body, maintaining homeostasis of body fluids.

Nephrons

The tiny functional units of the kidney that filter blood, reabsorb useful substances, and excrete waste.

Transpiration

The process of water leaving the plant, which creates tension that pulls water up from the roots.

Phloem

Vascular tissue in plants that transports sugars (photosynthates) bidirectionally.

Spermatogenesis

The process of making sperm in males, producing four functional sperm cells.

Oogenesis

The process of making eggs in females, producing one egg and three polar bodies.

Gas exchange

The process of exchanging O2 and CO2 with the environment, crucial for respiration in amniotes and photosynthesis in angiosperms.

Cohesion-tension theory

A theory explaining how water moves through plants driven by transpiration and the cohesive properties of water.

Keratinized skin

Waterproof skin covered with keratin that prevents organisms from drying out in terrestrial environments.

Vascular tissue

Includes xylem and phloem, responsible for transporting water, minerals, and sugars in plants.

Internal fertilization

A reproductive strategy where sperm is deposited inside the female reproductive tract, reducing gamete drying.

Fruits

Mature ovary of a flowering plant that protects seeds and aids in their dispersal.

Adaptations for terrestrial life

Innovations that enable survival on land, such as keratinized skin, amniotic eggs, and waxy cuticles in plants.

Speciation

The evolutionary process by which new species arise, often due to geographic isolation or ecological specialization.

Biodiversity

The total variety of life on Earth, resulting from the balance between speciation and extinction rates.

Conservation strategies

Methods to protect biodiversity, including habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, and managing invasive species.

Photosynthates

Sugars produced during photosynthesis, transported primarily as sucrose within the plant.