Leaf It to Me
Structure that anchors a plant in the soil and absorbs water and minerals.
What are roots?
A symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms.
What is mutualism?
These microorganisms break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
What are decomposers?
This human activity involves clearing forests for agriculture or urban development, reducing biodiversity.
What is deforestation?
These organisms make their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of most food chains.
What are producers or autotrophs?
part of a plant stem transports water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.
What is xylem?
Living components of an ecosystem that affect other organisms. They include all organisms and their interactions.
What are biotic factors?
This type of microorganism, lacking a nucleus, is commonly found in soil and plays a key role in nitrogen fixation.
What is a bacteria?
This practice removes fish from ecosystems faster than they can reproduce, collapsing populations.
What is overfishing?
The first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, born in 1996
Who is Dolly the sheep?
Primary function of palisade cells found in leaves of a plant.
What is photosynthesis?
When individuals of the same species struggle against each other for limited resources such as food, mates, or territory.
What is intraspecific competition?
This element, cycled by microorganisms, is essential for forming proteins and DNA.
What is nitrogen?
This process occurs when a species’ habitat gets broken into pieces that are no longer connected to each other. It may restrict the access to food and water sources. It may also prevent animals from accessing their breeding or nesting areas.
What is habitat fragmentation?
The opening and closing of stomata is primarily controlled by the turgor pressure in these specialized cells.
What are guard cells?
The structure which produces pollen, the male reproductive cells.
What is the anther? (or What is the stamen?)
One shows a linear feeding relationship, while the other shows multiple interconnected feeding relationships within an ecosystem
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
This phenomenon, caused by nutrient runoff, leads to excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems.
What is eutrophication?
A process which reduces genetic diversity, making populations more susceptible to diseases.
What is selective breeding?
These ecosystems occur where fresh water meets the ocean and are vital breeding grounds for many species.
What are estuaries?
A waxy layer on a leaf that prevents water loss and protects against pathogens
What is the cuticle?
These small fish swim alongside sharks to eat leftover food scraps, without harming the shark.
What are remoras?
This process uses microorganisms to clean up oil spills or contaminated soil.
What is bioremediation?
This process, caused by increased CO2 absorption in oceans, lowers pH and harms shellfish and coral reefs.
What is ocean acidification?
This type of organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species
What are GMOs?
or
What are transgenic species?
This type of plant, found in estuarial ecosystems, has specialised roots called pneumatophores and salt-excreting glands to thrive in saline, waterlogged environments.
What are mangroves?
This phenomenon occurs when predators limit the density and/or behavior of their prey and thereby enhance survival of the next lower trophic level.
What is a Trophic Cascade?
This group of microorganisms, including blue-green algae, performs photosynthesis and contributes to oxygen production in aquatic ecosystems.
What are cyanobacteria?
This type of fishing, dragging nets across the ocean floor, destroys coral reefs and benthic habitats.
What is bottom trawling?
Prions accumulate in this type of brain tissue structure, forming spongiform vacuoles that give characteristic “holes” seen under a microscope.
What is neuropil or spongiform brain tissue?