Organisms and Environment Vocabulary

Heredity

• the process in which characteristics are passed from parents to offspring

• the study of how traits are acquired through environmental factors

• the genetic variation observed in a population over time

• the method by which organisms adapt to their surroundings

Gamete

• A type of cell that contains full genetic material of the organism

• The male or female reproductive cell that contains half the genetic material of the organism

• A cell that is involved in the immune response

• A type of somatic cell found in the body

Scavenger

• an animal that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms

• a plant that grows in water

• a predator that hunts live animals

• a herbivore that eats only plants

Long Term Environmental Changes

• changes that occur rapidly and affect organisms immediately

• changes that occur slowly over time and affects organisms over several generations

• changes that are temporary and reversible

• changes that only affect the physical environment without impacting organisms

Structure

• how the cell is built

• the function of the cell

• the size of the cell

• the color of the cell

Natural Selection

• organisms that are better suited for their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

• all organisms have an equal chance of survival

• only the strongest organisms survive

• organisms that adapt quickly will always thrive

Genetic Variation

• genetic differences between individuals or populations

• identical genetic makeup among individuals

• the process of genetic mutation

• the study of heredity in organisms

Prey

• an organism that is hunted and eaten by another organism

• a type of predator that hunts for food

• a plant that consumes insects for nutrients

• an animal that scavenges dead organisms

Wild fires

• a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush

• a small, controlled fire used for land management

• a fire that occurs in urban areas, often caused by human activity

• a fire that is intentionally set for agricultural purposes

Ecological Biodiversity

• the variety of all living organisms in an ecosystem

• the number of species in a specific area

• the total biomass of an ecosystem

• the interactions between different species