biodiversity
the number of different species in an area
gene
a structure in an organism's cells that carries its hereditary information
extinction
the disappearance of all members of a species from Earth
endangered species
a species in danger of becoming extinct in the near future
threatened species
a species that could become endangered in the near future
habitat destruction
the loss of a natural habitat
habitat fragmentation
the breaking of a habitat into smaller, isolated pieces
exotic species
species that are carried to a new location by people
captive breeding
the mating of animals in zoos or wildlife preserves
poaching
illegal killing or removal of wildlife from their habitats
nitrogen fixation
the process of changing free nitrogen gas into a usable form
evaporation
the process by which molecules of a liquid absorb energy and change to a gas
condensation
the process by which a gas changes to a liquid
precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail
classification
the process of grouping things based on their similarities
binomial nomenclature
the system for naming organisms in which each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name indicating its genus and species
taxonomy
the scientific study of how living things are classified
genus
a classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species
photosynthesis
the process by which plants and some other organisms capture the energy in sunlight and use it to make food
pigment
a colored chemical compound that absorbs light
stomata
small openings on the underside of a leaf through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move
autotroph
an organism that makes its own food
heterotroph
an organism that cannot make its own food
chlorophyll
a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and some bacteria
fermentation
the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen
cellular respiration
the process by which cells break down simple food molecules to release the energy they contain
surface runoff
Precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water in excess of what can infiltrate the soil surface and be stored in small surface depressions
discharge
the flow of water from groundwater or aquifers into a body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean
infiltration
The penetration of water through the ground surface into sub-surface soil
percolation
The movement of water downward and radially through subsurface soil layers, usually continuing downward to ground water. Can also involve upward movement of water.
transpiration
The process by which water vapor is lost to the atmosphere from living plants.
interception
the process of direct absorption of precipitation by any above-ground part of a plant
aquifer
An underground bed or layer of earth, gravel, or porous stone that contains water.
groundwater
The supply of fresh water under the Earth's surface that forms a natural reservoir.
sublimation
The process of conversion from the solid state directly to the gaseous state, without passing through the liquid state.
water table
Top of an unconfined aquifer, below which the pore spaces are saturated with water.
reservoir
Any natural or artificial holding area used to store, regulate, or control water.
watershed
The land area that drains into a stream; the watershed for a major river may encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point
wetlands
An area that is saturated by surface or ground water with vegetation adapted for life under those soil conditions, as swamps, bogs, fens, marshes, and estuaries.
glacier
a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.
collection
when precipitation that falls from the clouds collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams.
breakwater
a rock structure parallel to the shore that is used to slow erosion by reducing wave energy hitting the shore
composition
what something is made of or its mix of ingredients. for example, the materials that make up a mixture such as soil. composition can describe the kind and/or amount of different materials in a mixture
constructive
a force or earth process that builds up earth material to create landforms
contour interval
the elevation difference represented by the difference between two adjacent contour lines on a topographical map
contour line
a line on a topographic map that indicates places of equal elevation
delta
a fan-shaped area that develops in the flat, low area where a river empties into a large body of water
deposit
(n) earth materials that have been left in a particular location as a result of an earth process that drops sediments that were previously suspended in air, water or ice; (v) to leave material in a particular location
deposition
the earth process that results in a deposit of earth materials
destructive
a force or earth process that breaks down or removes earth material
dredging
removing earth material from under water
earth processes
dynamic actions that occur both on earth's surface and inside earth
ecologist
scientist who studies the interactions between organisms and their environment
elevation
the height of a location above sea level
engineer
a professional who uses science to solve practical problems, make equipment, and build structures
erode
to remove earth materials from one place and transport them elsewhere, commonly by moving water and wind
erosion
the earth process by which earth materials are removed from one place and transported elsewhere
evidence
information gained by direct observation or from reliable sources that can be used to formulate ideas about the natural world or to inform decision-making
flood
a large amount of water that has overflowed from its source, such as a stream or river
geologist
scientist who studies the earth and the changes that take place on and beneath its surface
habitat
the environment in which an organism lives
jetty
a rock structure built perpendicular to the shore that prevents deposition in a particular area, such as a harbor
landform
a feature of the earth's surface such as a lake, stream, valley, canyon, hill, ridge, or mountain
longshore current
a stream of water in the ocean that runs parallel to the shore
runoff
precipitation that reaches the surface of the earth and does not soak in, but rather moves across the surface until it reaches a "permanent" site of surface water, such as a stream, lake, or ocean
seawall
a wall made of rock, concrete, or similar material built along a cliff or shoreline to reduce erosion
sediment
small bits of decomposed earth materials such as rocks, minerals, and shells
soil
the layers of unconsolidated material found at the earth's surface. normally consists of weathered mineral particles, dead and living organic matter, air space, and associated moisture
soil composition
the materials that make up a sample of soil
stability
the tendency of a landform to resist erosion or other change
topographical map
a map that uses contour lines to represent the elevation of land surfaces
topography
the shape of the land, or the collection of landforms, in an area
trade-off
a balancing of factors, all of which are not attainable at the same time; getting one thing at the cost of another
weathering
the breakup of rock caused by mechanical or chemical processes
wetlands
an area characterized by a high proportion of water and watery land, such as a swamp, marsh, or bog
abiotic factor
a nonliving part of an organism's habitat
biome
a group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
biotic factor
a living part of an organism's habitat
carnivore
a consumer that eats only animals
climate
the typical weather pattern in an area over a long period of time
commensalism
a relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
community
all the different populations that live together in an area
competition
the struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resource
consumer
an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
decomposer
an organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
ecology
the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
ecosystem
the community of organisms that live in a particular area, along with their nonliving surroundings
energy pyramid
a diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
food chain
a series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy
food web
the pattern of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem
habitat
an environment that provides the things an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce
herbivore
a consumer that eats only plants
host
the organism that a parasite lives in or on in a parasitism interaction
keystone species
a species that influences the survival of many others in an ecosystem
limiting factor
an environmental factor that restricts a population
mutualism
a relationship between two species in which both species benefit
niche
the role of an organism in its habitat, or how it makes its living
omnivore
a consumer that eats both plants and animals
organism
a living thing
parasite
the organism that benefits by living on or an a host in a parasitism interaction
parasitism
a relationship in which one organism lives on or in a host and harms it
photosynthesis
the process in which organisms use water along with sunlight and carbon dioxide to make their own food
population
all the members of one species in a particular area
population density
the number of individuals in an area of a specific size
predation
an interaction in which one organism kills another for food
predator
the organism that does the killing in a predation interaction
prey
an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
producer
an organism that can make its own food
scavenger
a carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms
species
a group of organisms that are physically similar and can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce
symbiosis
a close relationship between two species
water cycle
the continuous process by which water moves from earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again
chemical energy
the potential energy stored in chemical bonds
combustion
the process of burning a fuel to produce thermal energy
elastic potential energy
the energy of stretched or compressed objects
electrical energy
the energy of electric charges
electromagnetic energy
the energy of light and other forms of radiation
energy
the ability to do work or cause change
energy transformation
the process of changing one form of energy to another
fossil fuel
a material such as coal that forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals; burned to release chemical energy
gravitational potential energy
potential energy that depends on the height of an object
kinetic energy
energy that an object has due to its motion
law of conservation of energy
the rule that energy cannot be created or destroyed
matter
anything that has mass and takes up space
mechanical energy
kinetic or potential energy associated with the motion or position of an object
nuclear energy
the potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom
potential energy
stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object
thermal energy
the total potential and kinetic energy of the particles in an object
biodiversity
the number of different species in an area
gene
a structure in an organism's cells that carries its hereditary information
extinction
the disappearance of all members of a species from Earth
endangered species
a species in danger of becoming extinct in the near future
threatened species
a species that could become endangered in the near future
habitat destruction
the loss of a natural habitat
habitat fragmentation
the breaking of a habitat into smaller, isolated pieces
exotic species
species that are carried to a new location by people
captive breeding
the mating of animals in zoos or wildlife preserves
poaching
illegal killing or removal of wildlife from their habitats
nitrogen fixation
the process of changing free nitrogen gas into a usable form
evaporation
the process by which molecules of a liquid absorb energy and change to a gas
condensation
the process by which a gas changes to a liquid
precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail
classification
the process of grouping things based on their similarities
binomial nomenclature
the system for naming organisms in which each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name indicating its genus and species
taxonomy
the scientific study of how living things are classified
genus
a classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species
photosynthesis
the process by which plants and some other organisms capture the energy in sunlight and use it to make food
pigment
a colored chemical compound that absorbs light
stomata
small openings on the underside of a leaf through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move
autotroph
an organism that makes its own food
heterotroph
an organism that cannot make its own food
chlorophyll
a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and some bacteria
fermentation
the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen
cellular respiration
the process by which cells break down simple food molecules to release the energy they contain
surface runoff
Precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water in excess of what can infiltrate the soil surface and be stored in small surface depressions
discharge
the flow of water from groundwater or aquifers into a body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean
infiltration
The penetration of water through the ground surface into sub-surface soil
percolation
The movement of water downward and radially through subsurface soil layers, usually continuing downward to ground water. Can also involve upward movement of water.
transpiration
The process by which water vapor is lost to the atmosphere from living plants.
interception
the process of direct absorption of precipitation by any above-ground part of a plant
aquifer
An underground bed or layer of earth, gravel, or porous stone that contains water.
groundwater
The supply of fresh water under the Earth's surface that forms a natural reservoir.
sublimation
The process of conversion from the solid state directly to the gaseous state, without passing through the liquid state.
water table
Top of an unconfined aquifer, below which the pore spaces are saturated with water.
reservoir
Any natural or artificial holding area used to store, regulate, or control water.
watershed
The land area that drains into a stream; the watershed for a major river may encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point
wetlands
An area that is saturated by surface or ground water with vegetation adapted for life under those soil conditions, as swamps, bogs, fens, marshes, and estuaries.
glacier
a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.
collection
when precipitation that falls from the clouds collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams.
breakwater
a rock structure parallel to the shore that is used to slow erosion by reducing wave energy hitting the shore
composition
what something is made of or its mix of ingredients. for example, the materials that make up a mixture such as soil. composition can describe the kind and/or amount of different materials in a mixture
constructive
a force or earth process that builds up earth material to create landforms
contour interval
the elevation difference represented by the difference between two adjacent contour lines on a topographical map
contour line
a line on a topographic map that indicates places of equal elevation
delta
a fan-shaped area that develops in the flat, low area where a river empties into a large body of water
deposit
(n) earth materials that have been left in a particular location as a result of an earth process that drops sediments that were previously suspended in air, water or ice; (v) to leave material in a particular location
deposition
the earth process that results in a deposit of earth materials
destructive
a force or earth process that breaks down or removes earth material
dredging
removing earth material from under water
earth processes
dynamic actions that occur both on earth's surface and inside earth
ecologist
scientist who studies the interactions between organisms and their environment
elevation
the height of a location above sea level
engineer
a professional who uses science to solve practical problems, make equipment, and build structures
erode
to remove earth materials from one place and transport them elsewhere, commonly by moving water and wind
erosion
the earth process by which earth materials are removed from one place and transported elsewhere
evidence
information gained by direct observation or from reliable sources that can be used to formulate ideas about the natural world or to inform decision-making
flood
a large amount of water that has overflowed from its source, such as a stream or river
geologist
scientist who studies the earth and the changes that take place on and beneath its surface
habitat
the environment in which an organism lives
jetty
a rock structure built perpendicular to the shore that prevents deposition in a particular area, such as a harbor
landform
a feature of the earth's surface such as a lake, stream, valley, canyon, hill, ridge, or mountain
longshore current
a stream of water in the ocean that runs parallel to the shore
runoff
precipitation that reaches the surface of the earth and does not soak in, but rather moves across the surface until it reaches a "permanent" site of surface water, such as a stream, lake, or ocean
seawall
a wall made of rock, concrete, or similar material built along a cliff or shoreline to reduce erosion
sediment
small bits of decomposed earth materials such as rocks, minerals, and shells
soil
the layers of unconsolidated material found at the earth's surface. normally consists of weathered mineral particles, dead and living organic matter, air space, and associated moisture
soil composition
the materials that make up a sample of soil
stability
the tendency of a landform to resist erosion or other change
topographical map
a map that uses contour lines to represent the elevation of land surfaces
topography
the shape of the land, or the collection of landforms, in an area
trade-off
a balancing of factors, all of which are not attainable at the same time; getting one thing at the cost of another
weathering
the breakup of rock caused by mechanical or chemical processes
wetlands
an area characterized by a high proportion of water and watery land, such as a swamp, marsh, or bog
abiotic factor
a nonliving part of an organism's habitat
biome
a group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
biotic factor
a living part of an organism's habitat
carnivore
a consumer that eats only animals
climate
the typical weather pattern in an area over a long period of time
commensalism
a relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
community
all the different populations that live together in an area
competition
the struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resource
consumer
an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
decomposer
an organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
ecology
the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment
ecosystem
the community of organisms that live in a particular area, along with their nonliving surroundings
energy pyramid
a diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web
food chain
a series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy
food web
the pattern of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem
habitat
an environment that provides the things an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce
herbivore
a consumer that eats only plants
host
the organism that a parasite lives in or on in a parasitism interaction
keystone species
a species that influences the survival of many others in an ecosystem
limiting factor
an environmental factor that restricts a population
mutualism
a relationship between two species in which both species benefit
niche
the role of an organism in its habitat, or how it makes its living
omnivore
a consumer that eats both plants and animals
organism
a living thing
parasite
the organism that benefits by living on or an a host in a parasitism interaction
parasitism
a relationship in which one organism lives on or in a host and harms it
photosynthesis
the process in which organisms use water along with sunlight and carbon dioxide to make their own food
population
all the members of one species in a particular area
population density
the number of individuals in an area of a specific size
predation
an interaction in which one organism kills another for food
predator
the organism that does the killing in a predation interaction
prey
an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
producer
an organism that can make its own food
scavenger
a carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms
species
a group of organisms that are physically similar and can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce
symbiosis
a close relationship between two species
water cycle
the continuous process by which water moves from earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again
chemical energy
the potential energy stored in chemical bonds
combustion
the process of burning a fuel to produce thermal energy
elastic potential energy
the energy of stretched or compressed objects
electrical energy
the energy of electric charges
electromagnetic energy
the energy of light and other forms of radiation
energy
the ability to do work or cause change
energy transformation
the process of changing one form of energy to another
fossil fuel
a material such as coal that forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals; burned to release chemical energy
gravitational potential energy
potential energy that depends on the height of an object
kinetic energy
energy that an object has due to its motion
law of conservation of energy
the rule that energy cannot be created or destroyed
matter
anything that has mass and takes up space
mechanical energy
kinetic or potential energy associated with the motion or position of an object
nuclear energy
the potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom
potential energy
stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object
thermal energy
the total potential and kinetic energy of the particles in an object