Ecosystem Dynamics
This term describes the living parts of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.
What are biotic factors?
Often called the control center or "brain" of the cell, this central organelle holds the cell's DNA.
What is the nucleus?
This is the twisted ladder shape (or double helix) that holds the genetic code for all living things.
What is DNA?
This is any physical trait or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its specific environment.
What is an adaptation?
Resources like solar energy and wind power that can be naturally replaced in a short amount of time are called this.
What are renewable resources?
Organisms like plants that make their own food using sunlight are known by this term.
What are producers (or autotrophs)?
This organelle is known as the "powerhouse" of the cell because it breaks down food to make energy.
What is the mitochondrion (or mitochondria)?
A strong genetic trait that can mask or hide a weaker recessive trait is called this.
What is a dominant trait?
Charles Darwin's theory that organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their traits is called this.
What is natural selection?
This term describes the mass cutting down and clearing of forests by humans.
What is deforestation?
This diagram shows how energy flows through many overlapping, interconnected food chains.
What is a food web?
Unlike animal cells, plant cells have this tough, rigid outer layer that provides extra shape and protection.
What is a cell wall?
This is the name of the four-square grid used by scientists to predict the possible genetic traits of offspring.
What is a Punnett square?
These are the preserved remains, prints, or traces of ancient organisms that provide physical evidence of past life on Earth.
What are fossils?
Coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable energy sources collectively known by this term.
What are fossil fuels?
Organisms like mushrooms and earthworms that break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients, are called this.
What are decomposers?
This thin, flexible outer barrier surrounds all cells and controls which substances can enter or leave.
What is the cell membrane?
This term refers to the physical, observable appearance of an organism (such as brown hair or blue eyes).
What is a phenotype?
When every single member of a biological species has died out, that species is said to be this.
What is extinct?
This occurs when harmful or toxic chemicals contaminate the air, land, or water
What is pollution?
This is the percentage of energy that is successfully passed up to the next level of an energy pyramid.
What is 10%?
These green structures found inside plant cells capture sunlight to perform photosynthesis.
What are chloroplasts?
If an organism inherits two of the exact same alleles for a gene (like BB or bb), it is described as this.
What is homozygous?
Darwin demonstrated evolutionary change by studying the different beak shapes of these birds on the Galápagos Islands
What are finches?
This is the natural process where gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat to keep our planet warm enough for life.
What is the greenhouse effect?