Biology Flashcards A-H

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Abiotic factor

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Non-living components of an ecosystem that influence living organisms.

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Acidification

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Process by which natural environments become more acidic, often due to burning fossil fuels. Ocean acidification refers to increased atmospheric CO2 dissolving into oceans, lowering pH levels and threatening marine life.

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Acidity

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Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution; pH lower than 7; affects enzyme activity, cellular function, and environmental conditions for organisms.

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Adaptation

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Heritable trait or characteristic that increases an organism’s chance of survival and reproduction in a particular environment.

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Aesthetics

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Beauty, visual appeal of a natural environment.

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Algae

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Simple, mostly aquatic, photosynthetic organisms that produce oxygen, cycle nutrients, and are the base of aquatic food chains. Examples include phytoplankton and seaweed.

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Allele

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Version of a gene. For example, a gene for eye color may have blue or brown alleles.

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Allele frequency

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How common an allele is in a population.

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Alter

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To change something, either genetic or environmental.

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Altitude

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Height above sea level; affects temperature and oxygen availability in ecosystems.