Biology final study guide

something that is living, was once living, or comes from something living
the process by which nitrites and nitrates are produced by bacteria in the soil
carbon cycle
the circulation and reutilization of carbon atoms especially via the process of photosynthesis and respiration.
has long severe winters and short cool summers. temperature only reaches 50 degrees F. Recieves 20 inches of percipatation per year (mostly snow) it has pine trees, spruses, fir trees, conifer trees, moose, wolves, and deer.
Temperate decidous forest
characterized by trees that lose all of their leaves in the fall, characterized by hardwood trees, and broad leaved trees and shrubs
Temperate grasslands
too dry for forests, too moist for deserts, grasses and other flowering plants, wild horses, asses, and antelope, bison, kangaroos, antelopes, and other large herbivores
dry areas where precipitation is less than 30cm a year, succulent plants (cactus) and scattered grasses
Tropical Rainforest
In this biome it rains almost everyday. Temperatures are high with little difference between day and night temperatures. There are more organisms living here than anywhere else on Earth.
bacteria that live under extreme conditions such as: high temperature, high salt content, and low oxygen, considered to be the most ancient organisms on the planet,
known as “true bacteria”, largest of the two bacterial kingdoms, contains disease causing bacteria
tiny non-living particles , smaller than bacteria and other pathogens, which must invade living cells in order to reproduce; when they invade, the cells are damaged or destroyed in the process releasing new particles to infect other cells
The basic unit of all living things
animals with a backbone
Animals without backbones
called founder of modern taxonomy; Invented binomial nomenclature
practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships
binomial nominclature
the system of naming organisms by using their genus species classifications.
First and largest category used to classify organisms
Phylum or division
in a traditional taxonomic system, the category contained within a phylum or division and containing orders
taxonomic group containing one or more families
In classification, the taxonomic category above genus.
a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms, contains 1 or more species.
a classification kingdom made up of eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that have cell walls made mostly of cellulose, that have pigments that absorb light, and that supply energy and oxygen to themselves and to other life-forms through photosynthesis
Kingdom of the most complex organisms; multi-cellular, heterotrophic, lack rigid cell walls, mobile, tissues in internal organs, sensory organs, nervous system
scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
a group of organisms of the same species populating a given area
limiting factors
any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms, ex. carrying capacity of land, disease, population density, population distribution
a symbiotic relationship that benifits one organism without harming the other
symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship
interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism, usually killing the prey.
Primary succession
Secondary succession
Sequence of community changes that take place after a community is disrupted by natural disasters or human actions.
Climax community
a relatively stable long-lasting community reached in a successional series; usually determined by climax and soil type
Primary producer
An autotroph, usually a photosynthetic organism. Collectively, autotrophs make up the trophic level of an ecosystem that ultimately supports all other levels.
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Organism that feeds only on primary consumers.
tertiary consumer
an organism that eats other organisms or organic matter instead of producing its own nutrients or obtaining nutrients from inorganic sources
an organism that makes its own food
organism that breaks down the wastes or remains of other organisms
Water cycle
the continuous process by which water moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back
the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
nitrogen fixation
The assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by certain bacteria into nitrogenous compounds that can be directly used by plants.
Cellular respiration
the process by which cells obtain energy from carbohydrates; atmospheric oxygen combines with glucose to form water and carbon dioxide
process where organisms use the suns energy, carbondioxide, and water to produce oxygen and glucose.
comprises true vertebrates and animals having a notochord, the group of animals that have a notochord at some point in their lives.
Division of an animal body along its length into a series of repeated parts called segments
the period during which an embryo develops (about 266 days in humans)
of or near the head end or toward the front plane of the body(top)
tail end of bilaterally symmetric animals (bottom)
Bilaterial Symetry
the animal can be divided into two halves. Most of the organs and organ systems are on either side of the midline.
Radial Symetry
body plan which animals bod are organized in a circle around a central axis
individual that has both male and female reproductive organs
In animal development, a series of cell and tissue movements in which the blastula-stage embryo folds inward, producing a three-layered embryo, the gastrula.
The 3 germ layers
endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm
the outer germ layer that develops into skin and nervous tissue
Characteistics of the skeletal system
aids in movement, provides structure, produces blood cells
characteristics of respiratory system
gas exchange, responsible for maintaining blood oxygen levels
carries air between larynx and bronchi
tiny air chambers in the lungs that allow gases to be exchanged between the air and blood
large, flat muscle at the bottom of the chest cavity that helps with breathing
characteristics of the digestive system
mechanically and chemically digest food, breaks down food into smaller molecules that are usuable to other cells in the body
along with teeth begins the mechanical part of digestion
Digestive system
body system the breaks down food and absorbs nutrients
respiratory system
internal skeleton or supporting framework in an animal
the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) ex. insects, crawfish
large muscular sac that continues the mechanical and chemical digestion of food
small intestine
The part of the digestive system in which most chemical digestion takes place
a triangular organ that produces enzymes that flow into the small intestine
Large intestine
beginning with the cecum and ending with the rectum, the last section of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from food and the remaining material is eliminated from the body
systems that make up the excretory system
respiratory, digestive, urinary, Integumentary
Nervous system
made up of the brain and spinal cord
the lobes of the brain that integrate sensory information and coordinate the creature’s response to that information
the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Medula Oblongata
part of brain stem connecting brain to spinal cord, controls respiration and heartbeat