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Bio & Env Glossary
Glossary of terms in biology and enviromental science
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abiotic | non-living factors in an ecosystem, such as temperature, sunlight, and soil type. |
| Adaptation | a genetic or behavioral change that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. |
| Agroecology | the study of ecological processes in agricultural systems. |
| Algae | a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that range from single-celled organisms to large seaweeds. |
| Allele | one of the possible versions of a gene. |
| Allopatric speciation | the process by which new species arise through geographic isolation. |
| Anaerobic | processes that occur without oxygen. |
| Anthropogenic | caused by human activity. |
| Biodiversity | the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. |
| Biogeochemical cycle | the process by which elements and compounds move through living and non-living components of an ecosystem. |
| Biological community | a group of interacting populations of different species in a particular habitat. |
| Biome | a large-scale ecosystem with distinct vegetation, climate, and animal communities. |
| Biosphere | the part of the Earth where life exists. |
| Carbon footprint | the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily carbon dioxide) associated with a product, service, or activity. |
| Carnivore | an animal that eats other animals. |
| Cell | the basic unit of life, which is capable of carrying out all the functions necessary for life. |
| Chloroplast | an organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs. |
| Climate change | the long-term alteration of the Earth's climate due to human activity, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases. |
| Community ecology | the study of how different species interact with each other in a given ecosystem. |
| Conservation biology | the study of the preservation, restoration, and management of biodiversity. |
| Darwinian evolution | he theory of evolution by natural selection, which holds that the traits that confer a reproductive advantage in a particular environment will be passed on to future generations. |
| Decomposer | an organism that breaks down dead plant or animal material into simpler compounds. |
| Deforestation | the clearing of forests for agriculture, logging, or other human activities. |
| Desertification | the process by which land in arid or semi-arid regions becomes degraded due to human activity or climate change. |
| Detritivore | an organism that eats dead organic matter. |
| Ecology | the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. |
| Ecosystem | a community of organisms interacting with their physical and chemical environment. |
| Endangered species | a species that is at risk of extinction due to human activity or other factors. |
| Energy pyramid | a diagram that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. |
| Enzyme | a protein that catalyzes a chemical reaction. |
| Evolution | the process by which species change over time in response to changes in their environment or through genetic mutation. |
| Food chain | a linear sequence of organisms in which each organism feeds on the one before it. |
| Food web | a complex network of interdependent food chains in an ecosystem. |
| Fossil fuel | a non-renewable energy source that is formed from the remains of dead organisms over millions of years. |
| Gene | a sequence of DNA that codes for a specific protein or trait. |
| Genetic drift | random fluctuations in the frequency of alleles in a population. |
| Genetic variation | the range of genetic differences within a population. |
| Geographic isolation | the physical separation of populations by a geographic barrier, which can lead to allopatric speciation. |
| Global warming | the increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to the greenhouse effect. |
| Greenhouse effect | the process by which certain gases in |
| Habitat | the natural environment in which an organism lives. |
| Herbivore | an animal that eats plants. |
| Hydrologic cycle | the process by which water moves through the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land. |
| Invasive species | a non-native species that has been introduced to a new ecosystem and is causing harm to the native species or ecosystem. |
| Joule | a unit of energy used in physics and chemistry. |
| Keystone species | a species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem. |
| Landscape ecology | the study of how different ecosystems are connected and how they interact at larger scales. |
| Mutation | a change in the DNA sequence of a gene. |
| Natural selection | the process by which certain traits are favored by natural forces (such as predation or competition) and become more common in a population over time. |
| Nitrogen cycle | the process by which nitrogen is converted between different chemical forms in the environment. |
| Omnivore | an animal that eats both plants and animals. |
| Organism | a living entity, such as a plant, animal, or microbe. |
| Photosynthesis | the process by which plants and other photosynthetic organisms convert sunlight into chemical energy. |
| Population | a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same geographic area. |
| Quorum sensing | a process by which bacteria communicate with each other to coordinate their behavior. |
| Renewable energy | energy sources that can be replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. |
| Symbiosis | a close and long-term interaction between two different species. |
| Trophic level | the position of an organism in a food chain or food web, determined by its source of energy. |
| Ultraviolet radiation | a form of electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths than visible light, which can cause damage to living tissues. |
| Virus | a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the cells of other organisms. |
| Wetland | a land area that is saturated with water for at least part of the year and supports aquatic vegetation. |
| Xylem | a type of plant tissue that transports water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. |
| Y chromosome | one of the two sex chromosomes in most male mammals. |
| Zoonosis | a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. |
Created by:
Markoti
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