Term | Definition |
asexual reproduction | Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism, and inherit the genes of that parent only |
cell | the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism |
cephalization | the concentration of sense organs, nervous control, etc., at the anterior end of the body, forming a head and brain, both during evolution and in the course of an embryo's development. |
closed circulatory system | In this type of system, blood is pumped by a heart through vessels, and does not normally fill body cavities. |
coelom | he body cavity in metazoans, located between the intestinal canal and the body wall. |
colonial | (of animals or plants) living in colonies. |
fluid feeding | Fluid feeders are organisms that feed on the fluid of other organisms |
endoskeleton | an internal skeleton, such as the bony or cartilaginous skeleton of vertebrates. |
excretion | (in living organisms and cells) the process of eliminating or expelling waste matter |
exoskeleton | is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton |
filter feeding | feeding by filtering out plankton or nutrients suspended in the water. |
free-living | That lives independently of other organisms rather than part of a symbiotic or parasitic relationship. |
internal transport | A transport system is a means by which materials are moved from an exchange surface or exchange surfaces to cells |
invertebrates | an animal lacking a backbone |
levels of organization | The highest level of organization for living things is the biosphere; it encompasses all other levels. |
life functions | 1) All living things are organized and have chemicals.
2) Multicellular or unicellular.
3) Use energy.
4) Have a definite form and have a limited size.
5) Grow.
6) Respond to changes in environment.
7) Can reproduce.
8) Eventually die. |
medusa | is a form of cnidarian in which the body is shaped like an umbrella. |
motility | motility is the ability of organisms and fluid to move or get around. |
multicellular | having or consisting of many cells. |
niche | The niche that an organism occupies is the opening in the environment that the organism fills to make a living. |
open circulatory system | Closed circulatory systems have the blood closed at all times within vessels of different size and wall thickness |
organ | a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans. |
organ system | an organ system is a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions. |
parasite | an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense. |
polyp | a solitary or colonial sedentary form of a coelenterate such as a sea anemone, typically having a columnar body with the mouth uppermost surrounded by a ring of tentacles |
reproduction | the production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process. |
respiration | a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances. |
response | an answer or reply, as in words or in some action |
sessile | (of an organism, e.g., a barnacle) fixed in one place; immobile. |
sexual reproduction | the production of new living organisms by combining genetic information from two individuals of different types |
symmetry | is the balanced distribution of duplicate body parts or shapes within the body of an organism |
tissue | any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products |
vertebral column | another term for spinal column. |