Biology - 9Th Grade - Test #1

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Define food web

Back 1

A model that shows many interconnected food chains and pathways in which energy and matter flow through an ecosystem.

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Define food chain

Back 2

Simplified model that shows a single path for energy flow through an ecosystem.

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define herbivore

Back 3

Heterotroph that eats only plants.

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define carnivore

Back 4

heterotroph that preys on other heterotrophs.

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define omnivore

Back 5

Heterotroph that consumes both plants and animals.

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define producer

Back 6

An organism capable of producing energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

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define consumer

Back 7

An organism that generally obtains food by feeding on other organisms or organic matter due to lack of the ability to manufacture own food from inorganic sources; a heterotroph.

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define detritivore

Back 8

An organism that feeds on detritus or organic waste.

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define decomposer

Back 9

An organism whose ecological function involves the recycling of nutrients by performing the natural process of decomposition as it feeds on dead or decaying organisms.

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define autotroph

Back 10

A organism capable of making nutritive organic molecules from inorganic sources via photosynthesis (involving light energy) or chemosynthesis (involving chemical energy).

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heterotroph

Back 11

An organism that is unable to synthesize its own organic carbon-based compounds from inorganic sources, hence, feeds on organic matter produced by, or available in, other organisms.

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biotic

Back 12

Of, pertaining to, or produced by life or living organisms

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abiotic

Back 13

Nonliving, as in abiotic factor, which is a nonliving physical and chemical attribute of a system, for example light, temperature, wind patterns, rocks, soil, pH, pressure, etc. in an environment.

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ecosystem

Back 14

A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.

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commensalism

Back 15

A form of symbiosis between two organisms of different species in which one of them benefits from the association whereas the other is largely unaffected or not significantly harmed or benefiting from the relationship.

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mutualism

Back 16

A symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which both individuals benefit from the association.

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parasitism

Back 17

A form of symbiosis in which one organism (called parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism usually of different species (called host). The association may also lead to the injury of the host.

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symbiosis

Back 18

The relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other. A relationship between different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other. An example is the hermit crab who's shell offers a niche for anemones to exist in which can defend the crab with its stinging capabilies.

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niche

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The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem.

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habitat

Back 20

Place where an organism or a biological population normally lives or occurs.

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succession

Back 21

The act of following in order or sequence.

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biome

Back 22

A major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur.

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pioneer species

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A species that is the first of it's kind in a new area.

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indicator species

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A species which is a good indicator of the living conditions in a particular habitat. The peppermoth will express a black phenotype in a polluted atmosphere and a white phenotype in a clean air atmosphere. In this case, the peppermoth is a good indicator Species for measuring pollution.

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limiting factor

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A factor present in an environment that controls a process, particularly the growth, abundance or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem.

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Conferous forest

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A type of forest characterized by cone-bearing, needle-leaved trees

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Tundra

Back 27

The tundra biome is characterized by extremely cold temperatures and treeless, frozen landscapes.

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Rainforest

Back 28

Tropical rain forests are characterized by dense vegetation, seasonally warm temperatures, and abundant rainfall. The animals that dwell here depend on trees for housing and food.

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Savanna

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Savannas are areas of open grassland with very few trees.

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Grassland

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Grassland biomes are unaltered areas of land where grass is the dominant plant life, as opposed to other terrestrial biomes where trees occupy most of the land surface.

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Desert

Back 31

Deserts are dry areas that experience extremely small amounts of rainfall. They can be either cold or hot.

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Deciduous forest

Back 32

vegetation composed primarily of broad-leaved trees that shed all their leaves during one season. Deciduous forest is found in three middle-latitude regions with a temperate climate characterized by a winter season and year-round precipitation: eastern North America, western Eurasia, and northeastern Asia. Deciduous forest also extends into more arid regions along stream banks and around bodies of water.