artificial selection
The breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits
autotroph
An organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy. Example: green plants, algae, and certain bacteria.
biological diversity
the total number of species inhabiting a particular environment
carnivore
an animal that eats other animals
commensalism
a type of symbiosis where one species obtains shelter, food, or other benefits without affecting the other or host.
Consumers
a heterotroph; an organism that obtains energy from organic matter
Decomposers
organisms that break down dead organic matter into smaller molecules
Differential reproduction
the idea that those organisms best adapted to a given environment will be most likely to survive to reproductive age and have offspring of their own.
Ecosystem
a community or communities plus the physical environment
Energy pyramid
decrease in energy observed in each higher level of the food chain
Energy transfer
The conversion of one form of energy into another, or the movement of energy from one place to another. Solar panels allow for energy transfer from light energy to heat and electrical energy.
Evolution
a change in the genetic makeup of a species, as a result of natural selection favoring some individual characteristics over others
Extinction
the disappearance of a species
Food chain
the steps of transfer of energy from primary producers through consumers
Food web
all of the interconnected feeding relationships in a community
Genetic recombination
the formation of new genetic combinations, like the one that takes place during fertilization
Genetic variation
is a term used to describe the variation in the DNA sequence in each of our genomes usually caused by mutations
Herbivore
an animal that eats plants
Inherited variation
a result of genetic inheritance from the parents is called inherited variation
Mutation
occurs when a DNA gene is damaged or changed in such a way as to alter the genetic message carried by that gene
Mutualism
a type of symbiosis in which both partners benefit from the relationship
Natural selection
a change that results when individuals are better adapted than others to face the challenges of the environment and produce more offspring
Omnivore
an animal that eats both plants and animals
Parasitism
a type of symbiosis in which one partner; the parasite,gets benefit from the other ;the host
Producers
Producers are organisms that make their own food; they are also known as autotrophs; example would be plants
Succession
Ecological succession, the process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time
Trophic levels
each of the steps in a food chain