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126 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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scientific study of life
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Biology
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Life’s organization extends from the molecular level to the biosphere
Shared features at the molecular level are the basis of life’s unity |
Life’s Underlying Unity
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Levels of Organization
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Cell
Multicelled organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere |
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Smallest unit of an element that still retains the element’s properties. Electrons, protons, and neutrons are its building blocks. This hydrogen atom’s electron zips around a proton in a spherical volume of space
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atom
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Two or more joined atoms of the same or different elements. The “molecules of life” are complex carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
DNA, and RNA. In today’s world only living cells make them |
molecule
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Smallest unit that can live
and reproduce on its own or as part of a multicellular organism. It has an outer membrane, DNA, and other components |
cell
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Organized cells and substances that interact in a specialized activity. Many cells (white) made this bone tissue from their own secretions
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tissue
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Two or more tissues interacting in some task. A parrotfish eye, for example, is a sensory organ used in vision
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organ
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Organs interacting physically, chemically, or both in some task Parrotfish skin is an organ system with tissue layers, organs such as glands, and other parts
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organ system
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Individual made of different types of cells
Cells of most organisms, including this Red Sea parrotfish, are organized as tissues, organs, and organ systems |
multicelled organism
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Group of single-celled or multicelled individuals of the same species occupying a specified area
This is a fish population in the Red Sea |
population
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All populations of all species
occupying a specified area This is part of a coral reef in the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern end of the Red Sea |
community
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A community that is interacting with its physical environment
It has inputs and outputs of energy and materials Reef ecosystems flourish in warm, clear seawater throughout the Middle East |
ecosystem
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All regions of the Earth’s waters, crust, and atmosphere that hold
organisms Earth is a rare planet; without its abundance of free-flowing water, there would be no life |
the biosphere
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Atoms are the basic units of matter
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Molecules of Life
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Living things are made up of a certain subset of molecules:
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Nucleic acids
Proteins Carbohydrates Lipids |
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DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
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Signature molecule of life
Molecule of inheritance Directs assembly of amino acids |
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DNA and Inheritance
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Inheritance
Acquisition of traits through transmission of DNA from parent to offspring Reproduction Mechanism by which parents transmit DNA to offspring |
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Nothing Lives without Energy
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Energy = capacity to do work
Metabolism = processes by which cells acquire and use energy for maintenance, growth, and reproduction |
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Producers
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Make their own food
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Consumers
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Obtain energy by eating other organisms
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Decomposers
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Break down remains and wastes
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Organisms maintain certain conditions in their internal environment
A defining feature of life |
Homeostasis
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Sensing and Responding
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Organisms sense and respond to changes in their environment
Receptors detect specific forms of energy (stimuli) Sensing and responding helps to maintain homeostasis |
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Consist of one or more cells
Have the capacity to reproduce based on instructions in DNA Engage in metabolism Sense and respond to the environment |
All organisms- Unity of Life
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Life’s Diversity
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Millions of living species
Millions more now extinct Each species has some unique traits |
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Humphead parrotfish
First part (Scarus) Second name |
is Scarus gibbus
is genus name is a particular species within the genus |
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Organisms are grouped into three domains:
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Eubacteria
(Bacteria) Archaebacteria (Archaea Eukaryotes (Eukarya |
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Single celled
No nucleus Smaller, less complex Archaebacteria, eubacteria |
Prokaryotes
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Single- or multicelled
Nucleus Larger, more complex Fungi, protistans, plants, animals |
Eukaryotes
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Mutation
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= change in structure of DNA
Basis for variation in heritable traits May be harmful, neutral, or beneficial |
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Evolution
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Heritable change in a line of descent over time
Changes in populations result in diversity |
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Natural Selection
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Individuals vary in some heritable traits
Natural selection is an outcome of differences in survival and reproduction among individuals that vary in their traits |
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Artificial Selection
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Individuals exhibiting favored traits are bred
Favored traits become more common in population |
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Scientific Method
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Observe phenomenon
Develop hypotheses Make predictions Devise test of predictions Carry out test and analyze results |
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Role of Experiments
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Study a phenomenon under known conditions
Tests the prediction of the hypothesis Can never prove a hypothesis 100% correct |
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Control group
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A standard for comparison
Identical to experimental group except for variable being studied |
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Experimental group
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Includes one variable being studied
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Scientific Theory
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An explanation of the causes of a wide range of related phenomena
Is consistent with all collected data Used to make predictions Still can be disproved |
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Scientific method
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cannot provide answers to subjective questions
cannot provide moral, aesthetic, or philosophical standards may conflict with supernatural beliefs |
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Biosphere
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All places where organisms live
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Climate
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Affected by:
amount of incoming solar radiation prevailing winds elevation Average weather condition in a region |
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Global Air Circulation
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Solar energy warms the atmosphere and sets global air circulation patterns in motion
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Rotation and Wind Direction
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Earth rotates faster under the air at the equator than it does at the poles
Deflection east and west |
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Air Circulation
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Affects rain patterns
Defines temperature and moisture zones Tropical Warm temperate Cool temperate Cold |
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Thermal Inversion
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Weather pattern that traps a layer of cool, dense air beneath a warm air layer
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Types of Temperature Inversions
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Clear night, when the earth's surface radiates heat away rapidly
Advectional inversion, involves a horizontal inflow of cold air. |
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Industrial Smog
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Gray-air smog
Forms over cities that burn large amounts of coal and heavy fuel oils; mainly in developing countries Main components are sulfur oxides and suspended particles |
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Photochemical Smog
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Brown-air smog
Forms when sunlight interacts with components from automobile exhaust Nitrogen oxides are the main culprits Hot days contribute to formation |
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Acid Rain
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Sulfur and nitrogen oxides combine with moist air to form sulfuric and nitric acids
Kills crops and fish Coal-burning power plants and motor vehicles are major sources |
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Rain Shadow
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Air rises on the windward side, loses moisture before passing over the mountain
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Biogeographic Realms
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Six general regions of similar conditions and communities
Biomes Divisions of realms, characterized by habitat conditions and community structure Marine ecoregions |
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Hot Spots
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Portions of biomes that are richest in biodiversity and most vulnerable to species loss
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Deserts
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Annual rainfall < 10 centimeters; high level of evaporation
Form between 30 degrees north and south and in rain shadows Species distribution influenced by temperature and moisture gradients |
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Desert Dust
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Desert Dust
Spreads silt and pathogens across oceans |
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Forest Biomes
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Tall trees form a continuous canopy
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Habitat-
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type of place where each organism normally lives
Temperature, physical, and chemical features |
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Community-
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directly and indirectly all species in each habitat associate with one another as a community
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Niche-
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description of the way a species utilizes its habitat
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Commensalism-
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directly helps one species but does not affect the other species much, if at all.
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Mutualism
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Benefits flow both ways between interacting species
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Interspecific competition
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Disadvantages flow both ways
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Predation and Parasitism
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Directly benefit one species and directly hurt another species
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Symbiosis
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Living together or in close proximity for an extended period or portion of the life cycle
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Coevolution
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Changes in 1 species exert selective pressure on the other species
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Examples of Prey defenses
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Hard parts
Prickly elements Shells Chemicals |
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Warning coloration
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Well defended prey
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Mimcry
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One or both species benefit by their resemblance to another unpalatable or poisous species
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Camouflage
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Hiding in the open
Form, color, and behavior that allow to blend in |
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Last Chance Tricks
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Hissing, puffing up, showing teeth, playing dead
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Obligatory-
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members of a species can’t complete their life cycle without the assistance of a different species
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Interference competition-
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members of one species actively prevent members of another species from using a resource
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Exploitative
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-competing species have equal access to a resource; scramble for the resource
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ECOLOGY:
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Study of organisms where they live.
(The Study of Ecosystems) |
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ECOSYSTEM:
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A system consisting of organisms and their Biotic and Abiotic environment.
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BIOME:
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Terrestrial region characterized by distinct climate and the dominant organisms.
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Pioneer -
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First organisms to occupy an area.
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Seral Species
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- Species that replace pioneers, but do not perpetuate themselves.
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“Climax”
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- The organisms that tend to perpetuate themselves into a given area.
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Retrogression
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- Reversing the succession process facilitated by phenomenon
such as fire, wind, tillage, grazing, or others. |
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Producers: -
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Plants - Protists- Monera
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Consumers: -
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Animals
Protists |
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Intermediate disturbance hypothesis
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The number of species in a community is influenced by how frequent and severe the disturbances are.
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Primary succession:
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new environments
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Secondary succession:
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communities destroyed or displaced
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Pioneer Species
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Colonize barren habitats
Help create or improve soil Improve conditions for other species that then replace them |
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Climax Community
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Stable array of species that does not change over time
In a particular habitat, succession produces the same climax community |
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Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
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The number of species in a community is influenced by the frequency and severity of disturbances
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Exotic species
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A species moves out of its home range and takes up residence in a new place
No natural enemies or controls Can outcompete native species |
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Geographic dispersal
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slow or rapid movement A species moves out of its home range and takes up residence in a new place
No natural enemies or controls Can outcompete native species Geographic dispersal slow or rapid movement |
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Facilitation
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Presence of 1 species alters habitat conditions in a way that allows another to take root
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Inhibition
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A species alters that habitat such that it discourages another species from growing there.
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Tolerances
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Presence of species has no effect on the arrival of another species
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Community Instability
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Disturbances can cause a community to change in ways that persist even if the change is reversed
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Biodiversity and Extinction
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90% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct
Biodiversity is greater than ever Current range of biodiversity is the result of past extinctions and recoveries |
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Habitat Loss
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Physical reduction of suitable places to live, as well as loss of habitat as a result of chemical pollution
In the U.S. |
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Habitat Fragmentation
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Habitats are chopped up into patches
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MacArthur-Wilson Model
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Uses island biogeography to estimate future extinctions
Model predicts |
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Indicator Species
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Warn us of changes in habitats that could lead to local extinctions
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Conservation Biology
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Systematic study of biodiversity
Works to decipher evolutionary and ecological origins of biodiversity Attempts to identify ways to maintain biodiversity for the good of human populations |
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Photoautotrophs
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Capture sunlight or chemical energy
Primary producers |
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Heterotrophs
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Extract energy from other organisms or organic wastes
Consumers, decomposers, detritivores |
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Consumers
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Herbivores
Carnivores Parasites Omnivores Decomposers Detritivores |
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Feeding relationships
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All organisms at a trophic level are the same number of steps away from the energy input into the system
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Autotrophs
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are producers
closest to energy input first trophic level |
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Food Chain
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A straight-line sequence of who eats whom
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Energy Losses
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Energy transfers are never 100% efficient
Some energy is lost at each step Limits number of trophic levels in an ecosystem |
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Biological Magnification
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Nondegradable or slowly degradable substances become more and more concentrated in tissues of organisms at higher trophic levels of a food web
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Gross primary productivity
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is ecosystem’s total rate of photosynthesis
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Net primary productivity
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is rate at which producers store energy in tissues in excess of their aerobic respiration
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Biogeochemical Cycle
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Flow of an essential substance from the environment to living organisms and back to the environment
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Hydrologic cycle
Atmospheric cycles Sedimentary cycles |
Water
Nitrogen and carbon Phosphorus and other nutrients |
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Watershed
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A region where precipitation is funneled into a single stream or river
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Carbon Cycle
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Carbon moves through atmosphere, food webs, ocean, sediments, and rocks
Sediments and rocks are the main reservoir Combustion of fossil fuels changes natural balance |
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Greenhouse Effect
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Greenhouse gases impede escape of heat from Earth’s surface
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Global Warming
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Long-term increase in temperature of Earth’s lower atmosphere
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Facilitation
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Presence of 1 species alters habitat conditions in a way that allows another to take root
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Inhibition
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A species alters that habitat such that it discourages another species from growing there.
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Tolerances
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Presence of species has no effect on the arrival of another species
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Community Instability
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Disturbances can cause a community to change in ways that persist even if the change is reversed
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Biodiversity and Extinction
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90% of all species that have ever lived are now extinct
Biodiversity is greater than ever Current range of biodiversity is the result of past extinctions and recoveries |
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Habitat Loss
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Physical reduction of suitable places to live, as well as loss of habitat as a result of chemical pollution
In the U.S. |
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Habitat Fragmentation
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Habitats are chopped up into patches
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MacArthur-Wilson Model
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Uses island biogeography to estimate future extinctions
Model predicts |
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Indicator Species
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Warn us of changes in habitats that could lead to local extinctions
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Conservation Biology
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Systematic study of biodiversity
Works to decipher evolutionary and ecological origins of biodiversity Attempts to identify ways to maintain biodiversity for the good of human populations |
