Final Unit 3 and 4 Flashcards
(127 cards)
1
Q
Carnivore
A
Meat-eater with sharp, pointed teeth
2
Q
Herbivore
A
Plant-eater with flat molars
3
Q
Omnivore
A
Eats both plants and meat (mixed teeth)
4
Q
Forward-facing eyes
A
Predator adaptation for depth perception
5
Q
Side-facing eyes
A
Prey adaptation for wide field of view
6
Q
Long limbs
A
Adapted for fast running
7
Q
Short limbs
A
Adapted for digging/burrowing
8
Q
Flexible spine
A
Tree climber or balance adaptation
9
Q
Rigid spine
A
Bipedal walking adaptation
10
Q
Wide hips
A
Quadrupedal (four-legged movement)
11
Q
Narrow hips
A
Bipedal (two-legged movement)
12
Q
Evolution
A
Population change over generations through heritable traits
13
Q
Natural Selection
A
Survival of traits best suited to the environment
14
Q
Variation
A
Differences among individuals in a species
15
Q
Adaptation
A
Inherited trait that improves survival/reproduction
16
Q
Fossils
A
Preserved remains of ancient organisms
17
Q
Homologous structures
A
Similar anatomy due to shared ancestry
18
Q
Vestigial structures
A
Reduced or non-functional remnants from ancestors
19
Q
Biogeography
A
Study of species distribution across geography
20
Q
Speciation
A
Formation of new species through isolation and divergence
21
Q
Cladogram
A
Diagram showing evolutionary relationships
22
Q
Mutation
A
Random change in DNA, source of genetic variation
23
Q
Coevolution
A
Species evolving in response to each other
24
Q
Predator-Prey coevolution
A
Evolutionary arms race (e.g., speed vs. defense)
25
Mutualism
Both species benefit from evolutionary partnership
26
Parasitism
One species benefits at the other's expense
27
Competition
Species evolve to reduce resource overlap
28
Skull
Protects the brain; supports facial structures
29
Mandible
Lower jawbone; holds teeth; enables chewing
30
Clavicle
Collarbone connecting shoulder blade to sternum
31
Scapula
Shoulder blade; muscle attachment site
32
Humerus
Upper arm bone
33
Ribs
Protect heart/lungs; assist breathing
34
Radius
Forearm bone enabling rotation
35
Ulna
Forearm bone forming elbow joint
36
Carpals
Wrist bones enabling wrist movement
37
Metacarpals
Hand bones connecting wrist to fingers
38
Phalanges (Hand)
Finger bones for fine motor skills
39
Pelvis
Supports lower body; protects organs
40
Vertebrae
Spinal column protecting spinal cord
41
Sacrum
Fused vertebrae forming pelvis base
42
Femur
Thigh bone (longest in body)
43
Patella
Kneecap protecting knee joint
44
Tibia
Shin bone (main weight-bearing leg bone)
45
Fibula
Smaller lower leg bone providing stability
46
Tarsals
Ankle bones enabling foot movement
47
Metatarsals
Foot bones connecting ankle to toes
48
Phalanges (Foot)
Toe bones
49
Parietal Bone
Forms skull sides/roof
50
Frontal Bone
Forms forehead and eye sockets
51
Nasal Bone
Forms nose bridge
52
Sphenoid Bone
Bat-shaped skull base bone
53
Temporal Bone
Houses ear structures
54
Zygomatic Bone
Cheekbone; part of eye socket
55
Vomer Bone
Forms nasal septum
56
Maxilla
Upper jaw holding teeth
57
Mental Foramen
Mandible hole for nerve/blood vessels
58
Optic Canal
Sphenoid opening for optic nerve
59
Coronal Suture
Joins frontal and parietal bones
60
Sagittal Suture
Midline joint between parietal bones
61
Ecology
Study of organism-environment interactions
62
Atmosphere
Air layer containing gases (N₂, O₂, CO₂)
63
Hydrosphere
All Earth's water (oceans, lakes, ice, etc.)
64
Lithosphere
Earth's crust and upper mantle
65
Biosphere
Global sum of all ecosystems
66
Carbon Cycle
Movement of carbon through spheres via photosynthesis/respiration
67
Nitrogen Cycle
Conversion of N₂ to usable forms by bacteria
68
Phosphorus Cycle
Slow cycle from rocks to organisms via weathering
69
Water Cycle
Movement of water through evaporation/condensation/precipitation
70
Abiotic Factors
Non-living environmental components (sunlight, soil, etc.)
71
Biotic Factors
Living components and their interactions
72
Organism
Individual living being
73
Population
Group of same species in an area
74
Community
All interacting species in an area
75
Ecosystem
Community + abiotic environment
76
Biome
Large region with distinct climate/vegetation
77
Niche
Species' ecological role and resource use
78
Niche Partitioning
Resource division to reduce competition
79
Climate
Long-term regional weather patterns
80
Weather
Short-term atmospheric conditions
81
Soil
Vital ecosystem component for filtration/nutrient cycling
82
Trophic Levels
Feeding positions in food chains (producer to apex predator)
83
Trophic Cascade
Food web disruption from adding/removing a key species
84
Keystone Species
Organism with disproportionate ecosystem impact
85
Coral Reef
Diverse marine ecosystem built by coral-algae mutualism
86
Tundra
Cold biome with permafrost and low-growing plants
87
Pollution
Harmful substance introduction into environment
88
Sustainability
Meeting needs without compromising future resources
89
Genetic Drift
Random change in allele frequencies, especially in small populations
90
Gene Flow
Movement of genes between populations through migration
91
Artificial Selection
Human-controlled breeding for desirable traits
92
Selective Pressure
Environmental factor that affects an organism's survival or reproduction
93
Convergent Evolution
Unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environments
94
Divergent Evolution
Closely related species evolve different traits over time
95
Analogous Structures
Features with similar function but different evolutionary origin
96
Genotype
The genetic makeup of an organism
97
Phenotype
The physical expression of an organism's genes
98
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Condition in which a population's allele frequencies remain constant without evolutionary influences
99
Endosymbiotic Theory
Theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from engulfed prokaryotes
100
Cranium
Skull bones that protect the brain
101
Foramen Magnum
Large hole in skull where the spinal cord exits the brain
102
Coccyx
Small tailbone at the end of the spine; a vestigial structure
103
Ligament
Connects bone to bone
104
Tendon
Connects muscle to bone
105
Axial Skeleton
Central skeleton: skull, spine, and ribcage
106
Appendicular Skeleton
Limbs and girdles (shoulders and pelvis)
107
Primary Succession
Ecosystem development on newly formed land (e.g., lava flow)
108
Secondary Succession
Ecosystem recovery after a disturbance (e.g., fire)
109
Invasive Species
Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems
110
Carrying Capacity
Maximum population size an environment can support
111
Limiting Factor
Environmental condition that limits population growth
112
Food Chain
Linear flow of energy from producer to top consumer
113
Food Web
Complex network of interconnected food chains
114
Detritivore
Organism that consumes dead organic matter (e.g., earthworms)
115
Decomposer
Breaks down dead organisms chemically (e.g., fungi, bacteria)
116
Desert
Dry biome with extreme temperatures and little rainfall
117
Rainforest
Humid biome with high biodiversity and constant rainfall
118
Savanna
Grassland biome with scattered trees and seasonal rains
119
Temperate Forest
Biome with four seasons and deciduous trees
120
Deforestation
Clearing forests, often causing habitat loss
121
Eutrophication
Nutrient pollution in water bodies leading to algal blooms
122
Climate Change
Long-term change in Earth's climate, often caused by human activity
123
Phylogenetic Tree
Diagram showing evolutionary relationships and time
124
Reproductive Isolation
Condition that prevents species from interbreeding
125
Adaptive Radiation
Rapid evolution of species to fill different ecological roles
126
Bottleneck Effect
Sharp reduction in population size affecting genetic diversity
127
Founder Effect
Genetic variation caused by a new population forming from a few individuals
