Bio Vocab

Habitatuation

an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

terriotality

defense of a space against encroachment by individuals

Acid rain

Precipitation that is the result of air pollution reacting with water molecules in the atmosphere loading to the destruction of forest and lake ecosystems.

Animalia

organisms in this kingdom are multicellular heterotrophs without cell walls.

Archaea Bacteria

kingdom that included bacteria that live in extreme environments.

autotrophs

an organism that can make its own food; producers, (example: plants by photosynthesis)

Binomial Nomenclature

Naming system for all organisms. This was developed by Carl Linnaeus.

Bioaccumulation/biomagnification

increase in concentration of pollutants in the tissues of organisms as you move up trophic levels in an ecosystem.

camouflage

an adaptation that enables a species to blend in with its environment

carbon cycle

carbon dioxide gets into living tissue by photosynthesis and it returns to the enviorment through cellular respiration + Burning of fossil fuels.

carrying capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

cell

smallest unit of life

class

a group of closely related orders

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus.

Classification

The process of grouping organisms based on their physical similarities and DNA.

climate change

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere because of pollution.

Competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Consumer

an organism that gets their energy by feeding on other organisms; heterotrophs.

courtship

behavior used to attract males.

decomposer

an organism that gets its energy by feeding on dead organic matter.

deforestation

Destruction of forests

dichotomous key

series of paired questions used to identify an organism

domain

the largest and least specific taxon, there are three eukarya, Bacteria, Archaea.

eubacteria

kingdom that includes bacteria that live everywhere (except in extreme environments)

eukaryote

A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

Eutrophication

excessive nutrients in a lake or ther body of water, due to runoff from the land, which causes excessive growth of algae, and the death of animals from a lack of oxygen.

exponential growth

J shaped, explosive pattern of population growth.

external fertilization

process in which eggs are fertilized outside the female's body, Example: fish

family

a group of closely related genera

fossil fuels

coal,oil, and natural gas coming from old remains of plants & animals: burning this is a big contribution to climate change.

fungi

kingdom that included organism when are heterotrophs that have cell walls made of chitin: ex, mold,yeast, and mushrooms

genus

A group of closely related species

greenhouse effect

normal warming effect produced when the sun rays are trapped by gases in the earth's atmosphere: without this the earth would be ice everywhere

habitat destruction

the loss of a natural habitat; the major cause of extinction

heterotroph

an organism that must get food from its environment; aka consumer: ex. animals

hibernation

a dormant state of lowered metabolism that is an adaptation for surviving winter.

imprinting

the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life

internal fertilization

Process in which eggs are fertilized inside the female's body: ex. humans

invasive species

plants and animals that are deliberately/ accidentally introduced into an areas. their population explode and have no known natural predators and out-compete native species for resources leading to the decline of resources.

Kingdom

2nd largest taxonomic , consisting of closely related phyla.

Limiting Factor

An environmental condition that restricts the size of a population

Multicellular

made of 2 or more cells

nitrogen cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere

nitrogen fixation

process of converting nitrogen into air, into a form that plants and animals can use. (Nitrates and Nitrites).

non-native species

A species that is not naturally found in an ecosystem and does not affect the survival of other species there.

order

a group of closely related families

Parasitism

a symbiotic relationship where one organism is harmed but the other is benefiting from it.

pheremone

A chemical released by animals that influences the behavior of other animals of the same species

phylum

group of closely related classes

placenta

an organ in the uterus of a pregnant mammal that nourished the fetus through the umbilical cord

plantae

kingdom with organisms that are photosynthetic autotrophs that have cell walls made of cellulose

predator

An animal that hunts other animals for food

prey

an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food

producer

an organism that makes its own food: autotrophs

prokaryote

bacterial cells that don't have a nucleus or membrane bound organisms

seed

a plant structure that contains an embryo and food source surrounded by a protective coat.

species

smallest taxon, a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offsprings.

spore

A reproductive cell with a hard, protective coating made by bacteria fungi and some plants like fern.

stewardship

commitment to the responsible management of natural resources and sustainable action to help preserve the enviorment.

suckling

when a young mammal nurses from its mother

symbiosis

a close relationship between two species living together.

taxis

Movement toward or away from a stimulus.

trial and error learning

behavior in which an animal learns to perform behavior over and over again until success is achieved.

tropism

growth response of a plant to a stimulus

Unicellular

Made of a single cell

waste lagoon

these become problematic when they flood into rivers/drinking water supplies

Mutualism

symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit; ex. good bacteria in the human gut

Organism

A living thing

Aerobic Respieration

A form of cellular respiration that requires oxygen in order to generate ATP

Diffusion

the simplest form of passive transport

DNA

the genetic code of life

Dynamic Equilibrium

particles are evenly distributed and continue to move across the cell membrane/space

electron microscope

uses a beam of electrons to magnify an object; much more powerful than a compound light microscope

Eyespot

an organelle that the protist euglena uses to detect light

Flagella

long, whip-like tails used for movement

active transport

the movement of particles from low to high concentration (against the concentration gradient); requires ATP/energy

Adaptation

inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival

alcoholic fermentation

anaerobic respiration that makes 2 ATP from each glucose molecule, carbon dioxide, and alcohol; carried out by yeast and bacteria

Anaerobic Respiration

A form of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen and generates less ATP

ATP

energy-storing molecule of cells; energy is stored in the bonds between the phosphates

Cell wall

additional layer found outside of the cell membrane in plants, fungi, bacteria, and some protists; offers additional support and protection

Cell/plasma membrane

thin, flexible structure that provides protection and support to a cell and separates it from the outside environment

Cellular Respiration

burning glucose to make ATP; 36-38 ATP are formed from each glucose molecule; carried out by all organisms; occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells

Cilia

short, hair-like projections found in eukaryotes that are used for movement (protists) and that line the respiratory tracts of animals

compound light microscope

a microscope that shines light through a specimen and has two lenses to magnify an object

Concentration Gradient

a difference in concentration of a substance across a cell membrane/space

Contractile Vacuole

specialized vacuole in paramecia that allow them to live in freshwater environments by constantly pumping water out

Cytoplasm

gel-like material made mostly of water that surrounds the organelles inside a cell

Glucose

simple sugar made during photosynthesis and burned during cellular respiration

Homeostasis

maintaining a constant internal environment

lactic acid fermentation

anaerobic respiration that makes 2 ATP from each glucose molecule and lactic acid which causes muscle soreness/cramps

Lysosome

a eukaryotic organelle that contains digestive enzymes for breaking down worn out cell parts and engulfed viruses/bacteria

Mitochondria

organelle that is the site of cellular respiration; sometimes referred to as the "powerhouse" of a cell as it makes ATP (energy)

Nucleus

organelle that contains the DNA/chromosomes; sometimes referred to as the "command and control center" of a cell

Organelle

structure inside a cell that performs a certain function

Osmosis

the diffusion of water; remember "solute sucks"

Passive Transport

movement of molecules from high to low concentration (down the concentration gradient); does not require ATP/energy

Phospholipid BiLayer

another name for the cell/plasma membrane which is made up of two layers of phospholipids

Photosynthesis

process carried out by plants, some protists, and some bacteria in which carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose (food) and oxygen; occurs in the chloroplast of eukaryotic cells

Protein Synthesis

process of making proteins that includes transcription and translation