Non-living parts of an ecosystem.
abiotic
long-term changes in global temperature and weather patterns
climate change
living components of an ecosystem
biotic
process plants use to make glucose and oxygen.
photosynthesis
organelle in plants where photosynthesis takes place
chloroplast
The maximum population size an environment can support.
carrying capacity
a consumer
heterotroph
when all individuals in a species dies out
extinction
a change in DNA that may affect an organisms traits
mutation
the fluid inside a cell that holds organelles
cytoplasm
a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce
adaptation
the process by which better adapted organisms survive and reproduce more.
natural selection
harmful substances added to the environment
pollution
the idea that different species share a common evolutionary origin
common ancestry
the boundary that controls what enters and exits a cell
membrane
organisms fighting for the same limited resouces
competition
a trait that increases an organisms fitness in a given environment
advantageous trait
genetic material found in all living organisms
DNA
differences in DNA among individuals in a population
genetic variation
movement of molecules from high to low concentration
diffusion
The variety of life in an area.
biodiversity
causational evidence
diffusion of water across a membrane
osmosis
the natural process of change in an an ecosystem over time
ecological succession
the process by which cells become specialized in structure and function through controlled gene expression.
cell differentiation