Glossary

a nonliving component of an ecosystem, such as air, water, or temperature

a living component of a biological community

an alternative form of a gene for a given trait

large regional communities primarily determined by climate

a living component of a biological community

complex structures within the within the nucleus of a cell composed of various types of proteins and DNA that contains the cell’s genetic information

a relationship between two organisms in which one is helped and the other is not affected

two or more organisms which compete for vital resources e.g food, shelter, nesting sites, mates, space, water, etc

a single-ring nitrogeneous-base molecule in DNA and RNA; complementary base of guanine

organisms that use dead organic matter as a source of energy

the fundamental hereditary material of all living things. In eukaryotes, stored primarily in the cell nucleus

organisms in which the two sexes are “housed” in two different individuals so that eggs an sperm are not produced in the same individuals e.g. humans, fruit flies, oak trees, date palms

(deoxyribonucleic acid) the fundamental hereditary material of all living things. In eukaryotes, stored primarily in the cell nucleus

the branch of science which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment

all organisms in a given area, along with nonliving (abiotic) factors with which they interact

the ability to perform work

organisms whose cells contain their genetic material inside a nucleus; contains both membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles e.g. protists, plants, animals, and fungi

a series of organisms through which energy is passed in the form of food; the flow of energy from one organism to another

the job of the part of the living organism

the unit of hereditary information that controls the traits of an organism; located on the chromosomes

units of heredity information that controls the traits of a particular organism; located on chromosomes

the coexistence of both male and female sex organs in an organism; many plants contain both sex organs

the steady-state of body functioning; a state of equilibrium characterized by a dynamic interplay between outside forces that tend to change an organism’s internal environment and the internal control mechanisms that oppose such changes

the spot on chromosome where the allele is located

nuclear division in eukaryotes leading to the formation of two daughter nuclei each with a chromosome complement identical to that of the original nucleus

an inter-specific relationship in which both partners benefit in some way(s)

an independent learning unit

a relationship in which an organism derives its nutrition from a living host which is in turn harmed by the interaction

a form of a given trait that is expressed, or observable

the process by which plants use light energy to make sugars and other organic food molecules from carbon dioxide and water

a group of individuals belonging to the same species and living in the same geographic area

an interaction between species in which one species, the predator, eats the other (prey)

organisms that produce new organic material from inorganic material with the aid of sunlight; commonly known as plants

organisms whose genetic material is not contained in a nucleus; lacks both membrane-enclosed nucleus organelles e.g. bacteria

organisms whose genetic material is not contained in a nucleus; lacks both membrane-enclosed nucleus organelles e.g. bacteria

a compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulphur that is essential to living things

the reaction of an organism to a stimulus

(ribonucleic acid) a nucleic acid containing ribose. Various classes of RNA are involved in the transcription and translation of genetic information. RNA serves as the genetic storage material in some viruses

a nucleic acid containing ribose. Various classes of RNA are involved in the transcription and translation of genetic information. RNA serves as the genetic storage material in some viruses

any change of the internal or external environment of an organism that it can detect

the part of a living organism; can be internal or external

a single ring nitrogenous-base molecule in RNA but not in DNA; complementary to adenine

a double-ring nitrogeneous-base molecule in DNA and RNA; complementary base of thymine or uracil

A large body of air that takes on the climatic conditions of the area where it is formed.

The amount of energy reflected by a surface. Light surfaces tend to have a high albedo because they reflect more energy. Dark surfaces tend to have a low albedo because they absorb more energy.

a compound which contains an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side group; these are the building blocks of proteins

An underground area of rock that stores groundwater. Humans often pump out groundwater from aquifers or use them as a source for wells.

Rocky celestial bodies left over from the formation of the solar system that are smaller than planets and orbit the Sun.

Scientific theory for how the universe was created.

An area in space with extremely strong gravity from which no light can escape.

The border between two tectonic plates.

the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid

the optimum maximum population size an area can support over an extended period of time.

the breakdown of food molecules, such as glucose, and the storage of potential energy in a form that the cells can use to perform work

A path through which electricity can flow.

The typical weather conditions in an area over a 30-year period.

A significant change over a 30-year period from the typical or expected weather patterns of an area. Modern climate change is human-caused.

A frozen ball of gas, rock, and dust that orbit the Sun. When a comet gets close to the Sun, it heats up and the gas and dust form a tail.

Process by which water changes states from water vapor to liquid water.

Theory that states that all of Earth's land was originally a united supercontinent that drifted apart over time. This theory was eventually replaced by the theory of plate tectonics.

Less dense tectonic plates that make up the surface of land on Earth.

Tectonic plates push into each other.

The innermost layers of Earth; made of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

Depression formed by an impact.

The outermost layer of Earth.

A flow of electrical charge

an organism which feeds on dead organic material

Process by which water vapor (gas) converts straight to solid form, resulting in snow.

Tectonic plates pull apart from each other.

an allele that expresses itself and masks the effects of other alleles for the trait

an illustration of the relationship between producers and consumers at different trophic levels

An interconnected community of all the living organisms and the physical landscape of an area.

The movement of electrons from one atom to another creating a flow of electrical charge

The day when there is an equal amount of day and night (12 hours each). Occurs when the Sun shines directly on the Equator.

Process by which broken down rocks are carried to a new location.

Process by which water changes states from liquid to gaseous water vapor.

Process by which water evaporates from the surface of the land or from plant's leaves.

Break or crack in the plates on Earth's crust.

a sequence of food transfers from producers through one to four levels of consumers in an ecosystem

a network of interconnecting food chains

Finite sources of energy derived from ancient remains of decomposing organisms. The main fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas.

a force that holds back the motion of a sliding object

A collection of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity in space.

The theory that Earth is at the center of our solar system, and the Sun and other planets revolve around it.

a rock containing a cavity lined with crystals or other mineral matter

North and south axes of Earth's magnetic field

Large body of snow and ice that moves slowly across land.

When glaciers melt at a faster rate than snow falls to rebuild the glacier's mass.

An asymmetrical gas in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and water vapor.

A way of indicating which plants will grow best in an area based on the average temperature.

The theory that the Sun is at the center of our solar system.

Air pressure on Earth is higher than normal, so air descends. A high pressure system is associated with good weather--sunny and clear skies.

An extremely hot area located in the center of a tectonic plate where magma can rise to the surface. Some volcanoes are located over hot spots, rather than at tectonic plate boundaries.

An object's tendency to resist changes in motion.

The process by which surface water soaks into the ground.

A chain of islands in the ocean in an arc shape. Formed by two convergent oceanic plates and volcanic eruptions.

A large current of wind which carries warm and cold air masses to different areas of Earth.

The energy of an object due to motion.

A location's distance from the Equator.

Due to the pull of gravity, new rock is initially formed in flat, horizontal layers.

Deeper layers of rocks are older than layers closer to the surface.

environmental influences that limit population growth; these can be natural or a result of human impact

Part of Earth made of the crust and the upper molten part of the mantle.

Air pressure on Earth is lower than normal, so air rises. A low pressure system is associated with bad weather--clouds, rain, and wind.

Molten rock beneath Earth's surface.

An object or material that produces its own magnetic field

The area around a magnet that has magnetic force

A force that attracts or repels objects that contain magnetic material

The middle layer of Earth between the crust and the core.

The streak of light that is caused when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction. Also known as a shooting star.

A meteoroid that survives its trip through the atmosphere and lands somewhere on Earth. The impact of a meteorite can cause a crater on the surface of a planet.

A small rock in space that orbits around the Sun. Most meteoroids have broken off of larger objects such as asteroids or comets. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pickup truck.

An underwater chain of mountains formed at a divergent plate boundary.

the theory, proposed by Charles Darwin, that organisms with traits well adapted for their environment will be more likely survive and reproduce while organisms not as well adapted will not be as likely to survive and reproduce

A cloud of gas and dust in space.

The process by which stars get their energy. Atoms fuse together creating a nuclear reaction which releases energy in the form of heat and light in the star.

Denser tectonic plates that make up the ocean floor on Earth.

an independent learning unit

A supercontinent made of all of Earth's landmass that existed 200-250 million years ago.

A circuit where electricity flows through multiple paths

The time it takes a pendulum to swing across and back to its original starting point.

The disk-shaped plane in which everything in our solar system orbits around the Sun.

Theory that Earth's crust is divided into many pieces, called tectonic plates, which move over time due to convection currents in the mantle.

A process where one change triggers the next in a continuous cycle that encourages the initial change.

The energy held by an object that gives it capacity to do work.

Parts per million; a unit of measurement for carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere.

Heavier water droplets condense and fall from clouds to Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, or hail.

force applied over an area

A desert area that is created when a mountain blocks precipitation from passing to one side.

Phase in a star's life cycle where it greatly increases in size as it burns fuel through nuclear fusion.

An area in the Pacific Ocean bounded by several tectonic plates. Due to tectonic activity along these plates, this area has a high number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

a curve that occurs when the birth and death rate in a population come closer together and the population size levels off

A circuit where electricity flows through one continuous path

A period of extreme glaciation where a positive feedback loop led to Earth being covered almost entirely by ice.

Our Sun and all of the planets and other bodies in space (comets, asteroids, meteoroids) that orbit around the Sun in the plane of the ecliptic.

When two tectonic plates converge, the denser plate is pushed under the other.

The boundary between two convergent tectonic plates where one plate subducts under the other.

Process by which water changes straight from its solid state to gas. This is the same process that occurs with dry ice--when exposed to air, carbon dioxide is released in the form of gas through sublimation.

The day with the most sunlight. In the Northern Hemisphere this occurs when the Sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer.

The giant explosion of a supermassive star at the end of its life cycle.

An increase in the volume of matter when its temperature increases.

As global temperature increases, ocean water heats and expands which contributes to sea level rise.

a single-ring nitrogeneous-base molecule in DNA but not in RNA; complementary base of adenine

A place of irreversible damage where abnormal and extreme climate change conditions become the norm.

The physical features of an area of land.

Tectonic plates sideswipe each other.

A long depression formed on the ocean floor from the convergence of two oceanic plates. Trenches are some of the deepest place on Earth's surface.

A vent that allows magma, rock fragments, ash, and gases to escape to the surface of a planet or moon.

Process of how water in different states continuously moves on, above, and below Earth's surface. 

The short term atmospheric conditions in an area.

The breakdown of rocks on Earth's surface

The day with the least of sunlight. In the Northern Hemisphere this occurs when the Sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn.