Bio Vocab

Food web: network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem

Photosynthesis: A process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light and energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches

primary producer: first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms

Food chain: series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Detritus: material made up of decaying bits of plant and animal material

trophic level: Each step in a food chain or food web

Heterotroph: organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also called a consumer

Phytoplankton: photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

Autotroph: organisms that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food.

Biomass: total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

ecological pyramid: model of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web

Chemosynthesis: process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

Consumer: An organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply

New Week of 9/1

Niche: full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions

Karyotype: micrograph of the complete diploid set of chromosomes grouped together in pairs, arranged in order of decreasing size

Chromosomes: threadlike structure of DNA and proteins that contains genetic information, in eukaryotes, chromosomes found in the nucleus, in prokaryotes found in the cytoplasm.

Autosomes: chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; also called autosomal chromosome

Sex Chromosome: one of two chromosomes that determines an individual’s sex

Genes: sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait; factor that is passed from parent to offspring

Alleles:one of a number of different forms of a gene

Genetics: scientific study of heredity

Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism