Define Ecosystem

Is all of the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment.

What are the 5 components of the ecosystem?

Energy Mineral nutrients Water Oxygen Living organisms

Define Biotic Factors

Living and once living parts of an ecosystem

Define Abiotic Factors

The nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Define Organism

An individual living thing.

Define Species

A group of organisms that are closely related and that can mate to produce living offspring.

Define Population

All of the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.

What is an important characteristic of a population?

Members usually bred with one and other rather than with members of another population.

Define Community

A group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other.

How do plants affect the community?

Plants of a community determine what kind of animals can live there.

Define Habitat

The place an organism lives.

Who was Charles Darwin?

English Naturalist who in 1859 proposed the idea of evolution.

Define Hereditary

Passed on from parent to offspring.

Define Natural Selection

The unequal survival and reproduction that results from the presence or absence of particular traits.

Define Evolution

Over the course of time and many generations natural selection causes the characteristics of a population to change. This change in genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next is known as evolution.

What is the story of Darwin’s Finches?

On Darwin’s trip to the Galapagos Islands he noticed there were 13 unique species of birds that looked similar but had different beaks. The beaks varied based on the birds diet. He theorized that the birds came to the island from the main land. The birds beaks changed over time to best suit the birds needs in terms of its available diet on each island.

Summarize Darwin’s theory of evolution found in the table on pg 98 in the text.

Organisms produce more offspring than can survive. The env is hostile and contains limited resources Organisms differ in the traits they have Some inherited traits provide organisms with an advantage. Each generation contains proportionately more organisms with advantageous traits

Define Adaptation

An inherited trait that increases an organisms chance of survival and reproduction in a certain environment.

How does evolution work How does evolution work? Be able to include the terms natural selection, adaptation, mutation and hereditary traits.

A genetic mutation occurs within a population and if it is valuable it will help the offspring survive and reproduce. This is an adaptation and becomes an inherited trait. If this trait continues and helps others like it to survive than the process of natural selection will allow these traits to flourish and become the norm.

Define Coevolution

The process by which two organisms evolve in response to their interactions with each other.

Give an example of Coevolution

The honeycreepers beak evolved and became long and curved to get nectar from the lobelia flower. The flower developed sweet desirable nectar, and a way to get pollen on the bird while it is getting the nectar.

Define Artificial selection

Selective breeding of organisms by humans for specific characteristics.

Give an example of artificial selection

Domesticated animals such as dogs have a variety of breeds. Fruits and vegetables have also been selectively breed for centuries.

Define Resistance

The ability of one or more organisms to tolerate a particular chemical designed to kill it.

Give examples of resistance

Insects are becoming more resistant to pesticides. Bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics.

What are the three ways in which evolution can occur?

By Natural selection Artificial selection Resistance

Define Archaebacteria (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Ex: Methanogens live in swamps and produce methane gas Single celled; lack cell nuclei; reproduce by dividing in half; found in harsh environments Ex: Methanogens live in swamps and produce methane gas

Define Eubacteria (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Single celled; lack cell nuclei; reproduce by dividing in half; incredibly common Ex: Proteobacteria found in soils and animal intestines -Good bacteria for helping digestion -Break down waste materials -Can cause deadly infections

Define Fungi (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Ex: Yeasts, mushrooms, molds, mildews Absorb their food through their body surface, have cell walls; most live on land Ex: Yeasts, mushrooms, molds, mildews Break down materials, some are toxic

Define Protists (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Most single celled but some have many cells; most live in water Ex: diatoms, dinoflagellates,amoeba Creates algae and can be toxic like the Red tide. It can also cause diseases like malaria

Define Plants (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Many celles; make their own food by photosynthesis; have cell walls Ex: Ferns, mosses, trees, herbs, grasses, flowers. Plants determine what kind of animals can live in an environment.

Define Animals (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Many cells, no cell wall; ingest their food; live on land and water. Ex: insects, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals

Define Lower plants

Plants with no vascular tissue and they had swimming sperm. As a result these were smaller plants and lived in damp environments. These were similar to mosses. Ferns and Club mosses were the first vascular plants.

Define Gymnosperms

Woody plants whose seeds are not enclosed by fruits Woody plants whose seeds are not enclosed by fruits. Often these are known as conifers because the seeds are in cones.

Define Vascular tissue

A tissue that connects roots and leaves and is a system of tubes that carry food and water. This tissue has thick cell walls and helps to support the plant.

Define Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds in fruit Flowering plants that produce seeds in fruit. Most land plants are angiosperms.

Define Invertebrates (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Animals that lack backbones. Invertebrates such as insects have the largest populations on Earth and are a major food source for many ecosystems. They are also needed to help pollinate the plants which we require for a food source. They can also cause a lot of damage to plants, and give diseases to animals.

Define Vertebrates (Characterize, give examples, and how do they impact the environment)

Animals with Backbones. This includes many fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Fish were the first vertebrates. Amphibians were the first to go to land Reptiles were the first to be able to stay on land. Birds and mammals are warm blooded. Mammals give birth to live young, have fur, feed their young milk. Vertebrates are a major part of the ecosystems and we rely on many of them for food sources.