Essential Vocabulary List

  1. Scientific Method Notes
  2. Bio-Life
  3. Biotic—living parts of an ecosystem even if they are dead, they are still biotic
  4. Abiotic—nonliving parts of an ecosystem; Dead does not equal abiotic
  5. Organism-any living thing
  6. Habitat—place an organism lives…has four components—food, water, shelter, and space.
  7. Producer—an organism that makes its own food—plant —uses photosynthesis to make its food.
  8. Consumer—an organism that eats other organisms.
  9. Primary Consumer—An organism that eats only producers—plant eater.
  10. Secondary Consumer—An organism that eats both producers and consumers.
  11. Tertiary Consumer-An organism that eats both producers and consumers and has no natural predators.
  12. Decomposer—An organism that eats dead or decaying organisms.
  13. Scavenger—An animal that hunts dead animals.
  14. Food chain—the transfer of energy from one organism to another along ONE pathway.
  15. Food Web—the transfer of energy from organism to organism along MORE THAN ONE overlapping pathway.
  16. Autotroph—an organism that makes its own food. (Producer)
  17. Heterotroph—an organism that does not make its own food. (consumers)
  18. Symbiosis—A relationship between two organisms. There are three types of symbiotic relationships—parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism.
  19. Parasitism—a relationship in which one organism benefits, but the other organism is harmed. The harmed organism is called the host. The organism that harms the host is the parasite!
  20. Commensalism—a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other, the host organism, is not harmed.
  21. Mutualism—a relationship where both organisms benefit and neither is harmed.
  22. Limiting Factors—things that control the number of organisms in a particular population found in a habitat. (Food, Water, Shelter, Space, Predators, etc.)
  23. Carrying Capacity—the maximum number of organisms that can live in particular population within a habitat. (EX. How many bears can live in a particular forest?)
  24. Adaptation—a structure or behavior that helps an organism survive in its habitat. Two types of adaptations: structural or behavioral.
  25. Water Cycle—refers to the continuous movement of water on the surface of the earth.
  26. Condensation—water changes from a gas to a liquid. (Clouds)
  27. Melting—changing phase from a solid to a liquid.
  28. Freezing—changing phase from liquid to a solid.
  29. Evaporation—change of phase from a liquid to a gas.
  30. Precipitation—water falling as sleet, rain, snow, or hail.
  31. Sublimation—change of phase directly from a solid to a gas.
  32. Transpiration—water vapor released from plants through their stomata, pores on the underside of leaves.
  33. Runoff—water moving due to force of gravity. Usually referring to water on the ground moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation.
  34. Storage—when water stays in one place for an extended period of time..example..glacier, water deep underground, water deep in the ocean.
  35. Cell Theory—1. All living things are made of cells. 2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function. 3. All Cells come from other cells.
  36. Cell—The basic unit of structure and function in all living things.
  37. Organelles--structures that make up cells, means tiny organs.
  38. Cell Wall--made of cellulose, a nonliving material; found in plant cells, but not in animal cells; provides support and protection.
  39. Cell Membrane--provides protection and support for the cell, helps control movement of materials into and out of the cell.
  40. Nucleus--the control center or brain of the cell; regulates all activity inthe cell.
  41. Nuclear Membrane—surrounds the nucleus and allows materials to pass into or out of the nucleus.
  42. Chromosomes:--thick , rod-like objects floating in the nucleus; direct all activity in a cell including growth and reproduction; responsiblefor passing on traits of the cell to new cells.
  43. Nucleolus: produces ribosomes. Ribosomes are involved in the proteinmaking process in the cell. Small spot found in the nucleus; "little nucleus"
  44. Cytoplasm--clear, jelly-like substance found between the nucleus and the cell membrane. Constantly moves or streams throughout the cell.
  45. Endoplasmic Reticulum--Maze of tubular passageways that work as a transportation system. The passageways spread throughout the cell, carrying proteins from one part of the cell to another.
  46. Ribosomes--tiny, protein making sites in the cell manufactured by the nucleolus and transported by the endoplasmic reticulum.
  47. Mitochondria--supply most of the energy for the cell, rod-shaped structures are referred to as the powerhouse of the cell. Cellular respiration happens here.
  48. Vacuoles--act like storage tanks for the cells, water-filled sacs floating in the cytoplasm. Food and Waste products can be stored in vacuoles. In plant cells, vacuoles are the main water-storage areas.
  49. Lysosomes--small, round structures involved with the digestive activities of the cell. Contain enzymes that break down large food molecules into smaller ones. Digest old unused cell parts. Cell's cleanup crew.
  1. Golgi Bodies—prepare and package cell materials for transport throughout the cell. The Post office of the cell.
  1. Ingestion—Food Getting--how an organism takes in or produces food.
  1. Respiration—Getting Energy from our food—takes place in the mitochondria found in cells. Uses Oxygen we breathe to get energy from the food we eat.
  1. Excretion—Getting rid of waste—pooping and peeing—all organisms don’t have solid or liquid waste, however. Plants only have waste in the form of gas.
  1. Secretion—Useful fluids used in body activities—spit, sweat, snot are examples.
  1. Growth and Repair—all organisms grow and can repair injuries. The more complex the organism, the less it can repair.
  1. Response and Adaptation—all organisms respond to their environment and adapt over long periods of time in order to survive. Responses are short term. Adaptations happen over long periods of time.
  1. Independent Movement—all organisms are able to move under their own power.
  1. Reproduction—all organisms are able to make more of their species. Two types: Sexual (Two Parents) and Asexual (One Parent).
  1. Trait—any characteristic that can be passed from parent to offspring.
  1. Heredity—Passing of traits from parents to offspring.
  1. Genetics—the study of heredity.