Terminology Flashcards
(147 cards)
1
Q
Cell wall
A
The external, non living, rigid structure enclosing the cell membrane of algal, plant, fungi and most prokaryotic cells. The primary constituent is cellulose (algae, plants and some fungi) chitin (some fungi) or polysaccharide (prokaryotes)
2
Q
Nucleus
A
An organelle enclosed within its own double membrane and containing the chromosomes.
3
Q
Chromosomes
A
The strand of DNA and protein that carries the genetic information of a cell.
4
Q
Endoplasmic reticulum:
A
Network of flattened tubes providing a large surface area of membrane within the cell. It may be smooth or rough.
5
Q
Ribosomes:
A
The cell organelle that translates the DNA code into a linear sequence of amino acids which collectively form proteins. Free ribosomes occur in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Bound ribosomes are on the (rough) endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotic cells.
6
Q
Golgi apparatus:
A
The layer of flattened sacs receiving substances synthesised in the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum that are then modified and transported to various destinations.
7
Q
Lysosomes:
A
Organelles arising from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus containing enzymes that break down food particles and recycle damages organelles. They also play a role in controlled cell death - apoptosis.
8
Q
Mitochondria:
A
An organelle that concerts chemical energy of organic molecules such as sugars into the chemical ATP that powers work within the cell. This requires oxygen - aerobic respiration.
9
Q
Vacuoles:
A
A membranous sac in cytoplasm with a variety of functions (stores waste and nutrients). Part of osmoregulation.
10
Q
Centrioles:
A
Paired organelles occurring just outside the nuclear membrane of animal cells and make protists and in cells of land plants that firm motile sperm - their function is uncertain.
11
Q
Cilia:
A
Hair like extensions from the surface of some eukaryotic cells. I’m single celled organisms beating cilia move the whole cell, in multi cellular organisms cilia keeps fluid in motion over the cell surface.
12
Q
Haploid:
A
Having a SINGLE set of chromosomes.
13
Q
Diploid:
A
Having 2 sets of chromosomes,one from the male and one from the female parent.
14
Q
Flagellae:
A
Long, whip like structures used for movement in some eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Their internal structure is different in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
15
Q
Chloroplast:
A
A membrane bound organelle occurring in plant and algal cells, it contains the photosynthetic pigments in a small amount of DNA (cDNA). Converts solar energy into sugars for photosynthesis.
16
Q
Mitosis:
A
Cell division in eukaryotic cells where one cell gives rise to 2 daughter cells, each with the same chromosome numbers as the parent.
17
Q
Meiosis:
A
The sequence of two cell divisions by which a diploid cell gives rise to 4 haploid daughter cells.
18
Q
Diffusion:
A
The passive movement of dissolved molecules or ions from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration.
19
Q
Osmosis:
A
Diffusion of water across a differentially permeable membrane; takes place from a region of greater water potential to one of lesser water potential.
20
Q
Photosynthesis:
A
The process autotrophs (an organism with the capacity to make its own food) by which solar energy is trapped in the chloroplasts and converted to chemical energy in the form of the bonds in ATP molecules.
21
Q
Respiration:
A
The metabolic process in organisms by which organic molecules are oxidised to release energy, typically with CO2 and water as by-products (cellular respiration).
22
Q
Chlorophyll:
A
The main light capturing pigment in plants and algae.
23
Q
Natural selection:
A
The differential reproductive success of different genotypes as a result of some organisms being better adapted to their environment than others.
24
Q
Artificial selection:
A
The differential reproductive success of different genotypes produced by human decisions about which organisms are used for breeding.
25
Mutation:
Heritable change due to an alteration in the nucleotide sequence or arrangement of DNA in an organism.
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Stabilising selection:
Selection that favours phenotypes near the mean of the normal character distribution, leading to a reduction in variance around intermediate character states.
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Disruptive selection:
Selection that favours phenotypes towards the extremes of normal character distribution, leading to a bimodal distribution of character values in a population.
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Directional selection:
Selection that favours phenotypes towards one extreme of the normal character distribution, leading to a consistent directional change in the man value of a character in population.
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Allopatric speciation:
Formation of separate species through divergent evolution in populations that ARE geographically isolated (compare with sympatric speciation).
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Sympatric speciation:
Formation of separate species through divergent evolution in populations that are NOT geographically isolated (compare with allopatric).
31
Phylogeny:
The evolutionary history of relationships of a group of organisms.
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Cladistics:
Method of determining the phylogeny or evolutionary relationships among taxa based on the occurrence of shared, derived character states.
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Systematics:
The field of biology that aims to infer the phylogeny of organisms, classify them into a hierarchical series of groups and name the groups so classified.
34
Prokaryote:
Unicellular or multi cellular organism in the domains of bacteria and archaea. Comprising small cells with the plasma membrane encased within a cell wall. The DNA exists as a coiled circular strand.
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Heterotrophic:
An organism that obtains energy by ingesting autotrophs or other autotrophs and accessing the energy stored in the bond of their organic molecules.
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Autotrophic:
An organism with the capacity to make its own food.
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Virus:
An infectious particle of protein nucleic acid.
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Eukaryote:
A cell containing discrete membrane- bound organelles and with a membrane bound nucleus in which DNA is organised into chromosomes.
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Commensalism:
Interaction between 2 species where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.
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Mutualism:
Interaction between species where both species benefit.
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Sexual reproduction:
Reproduction involving the union of the 2 haploid gametes to form a new diploid individual.
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Asexual reproduction:
Reproduction that does not involve the union of 2 gametes. It results in the clonal offspring that are genetically identical to the parent and each other.
43
Gametophyte:
The haploid stage of a protist or plant life cycle that produces the sexual gamete.
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Gamete:
A sex cell (usually haploid) that unites with another to form a zygote. Isogametes are of the same size. When one gamete is larger that the other it is referred to as the female gamete or egg- when smaller the male gamete or sperm.
45
Parapatric speciation:
Gradual speciation whereby new species are created from populations that maintain overlapping geographic zones of genetic contact.
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Zoogeographical regions:
Faunal region
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Kingdom Monera:
Blue green algae, prokaryote, autotroph, single celled and colonial, marine, freshwater and terrestrial, other root system, no gametes produced, no gametophyte or sporophyte, no xylem or phloem, no leaves, no pollination, no seeds, no ovary, no double fertilisation, water required for male gamete n/a.
48
Bacteria:
Microscopic organisms, single celled, prokaryote that cannot multiply by itself- needs a host
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Archaea:
Single celled organisms, microbes, similar to bacteria.
50
Kingdom Protista:
Red algae, brown algae, green algae, Eukaryote, autotroph, mostly multicellular, mostly marine, brown has holdfast, green are sometimes attached, red has various attachment , gametes are produced, often sporophyte, no xylem or phloem, no leaves, no pollination, no seeds, no ovary, no fertilisation but transfer of male gametes does require water.
51
Lichen:
Composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner.
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Fungi:
Eukaryotic, includes mould and yeasts and mushrooms, separate from plants and animals and bacteria. Cell walls contain chitin. Perform vital roles in nutrient cycling.
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Sporophyte:
Spore producing phase in life cycle of a plant that exhibits alternation of generation.
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Spore:
A reproductive structure, some of which are adapted for dispersal and surviving long periods of time in unfavourable conditions.
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Mycelium:
The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread like hyphae.
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Mycorrhizae:
A symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant. Important. Component of soil life.
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Kingdom Plantae:
Contains liverworts, mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants. Eukaryotic, autotrophic, multicellular, terrestrial (flowering all 3 environments), roots and rhizoids (liverworts, mosses and ferns)' gametes are produced, sporophyte (ferns, conifers and flowering) gametophyte (moss and liverworts), xylem and phloem in ferns, conifers and flowering, pollination in conifers and flowering plants, seeds in conifers and flowering plants, ovary present in flowering plants, double fertilisation in flowering plants, transfer of male gamete requires water in mosses, liverworts and ferns.
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Alternation of generation;
Life cycles of Protists and plants with alternating gametophyte and sporophyte stages.
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Pollen:
The male gametophyte of seed plants.
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Ovule:
In gymnosperms angiosperms the female gametophyte with the egg cell, surrounded by integument other layers.
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Seed:
The fertilised ovule comprising the zygote in nutritive tissue (endosperm in angiosperms or female gametophyte in gymnosperms) surrounded by seed coat.
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Gymnosperm:
I seed planr with ovules in seeds not enclosed in an ovary includes several formal phyla of the plant kingdom.
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Angiosperm:
Flowering plants with ovules (and seeds) enclosed in a carpel.
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Stamen:
Structure consisting of a filament and an anther within which are the pollen grains (male gametophytes). collectively known as the androcium.
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Ather:
Part of a stamen bearing pollen sacs.
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Ovary:
In angiosperms the ovule bearing organ in animals organ that produces eggs or ova.
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Stigma:
The photo receptor organ in protists, the pollen receptor at the tip of the style in a flower.
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Diapause:
The delay in development in response to regularly and reoccurring periods of adverse environmental conditions.
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Deuterstomes:
Animals with radial cleavage of the egg, a coelom arising from outpocketings of the embryonic gut and where embryonic anus forms before the embryonic mouth.
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Turgid:
Swollen, fluid filled
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Xylem:
Tissues that conducts water and minerals upwards in a plant, comprised of tracheids, vessels in angiosperms fibres and parenchyma.
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Phloem:
Tissue that conducts food both upwards and downwards in the plant. composed of sieve cells which transports sucrose their adjacent companion cells and parenchyma fibres.
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Vascular bundle:
A strand of xylem and phloem separated by procambium in dicots often with a capping of fibres on the ouster side. Xylem and phloem- the vascular tissues together form the conductive tissue.
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Guard cell:
The pair of cells controlling the size of the aperture of a stomatal pore.
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Stomate:
A pore on the surface of the leaf bounded by two guard cells.
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Mesophyll:
Photosynthetic parenchyma cells that lie between the upper and lower epidermis layers of a leaf.
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Parenchyma:
Tissue-type of protists and plants whereby cells remain joined by common walls after cell division in vascular plants large thin-walled cells with a central vacuole for example cells forming cortex, pith and leaf palisade and medophyll.
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Root hair:
Long tubular outgrowths from the epidermis just behind the root tip.
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Cuticle:
Secreted layer (cutin) on the outside of epidermal cells. In plants it is waxy but in animals it may contain proteins and chitin. Males walls more or less impervious to water.
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Transpiration:
Process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves where it changes to vapour and is released into the atmosphere.
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Primary growth:
A plant body resulting from growth from the apical meristems of the embryonic root and shoot apices, axillary buds and lateral roots. composed of primary tissues
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Secondary growth:
Growth from the vascular cambium (which increases girth in plants) and from the cork cambium (which results in a layer of bark).
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Osmosis:
Diffusion of water across a differentially permeable membrane; takes place from a region of greater water potential to a region of lesser water potential.
84
Monocotyledon:
Also known as monocots. One of two major groups of flowering plants. Seedlings typically have one cotyledon (seed leaf).
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Dicotyledon:
Also known as dicots. A group of flowering plants whose seed typically have two embryonic leaves or cotyledons (seed leaf).
86
Bilateral symmetry:
Characteristic of animals whereby one imaginary line could divide them along the long axis to produce two halves that are mirror images. Such animals have a distinct head end (anterior) and tail end (posterior) an upper surface (dorsal) and a lower surface (ventral) also applied to flower shapes.
87
Radial symmetry:
Characteristic of an animal in which division in any longitudinal plane will divide the body into two equal parts also applied to flower shapes.
88
Hydrostatic skeleton:
The fluid field constant volume cavity that permits muscles to be re-stretched after contraction.
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Exoskeleton:
The skeleton on the outside of an animal with the muscle attachments on the inside.
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Endoskeleton:
An internal skeleton with the muscles enclosing it.
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Closed circulatory system:
The circulatory system where blood is confined to the blood vessels and does not mix directly with fluids surrounding the cells.
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Open circulatory system:
A system in which fluid in a cavity called the haemocoel bathes the organs directly with oxygen and nutrients and there is no distinction between blood and interstitial fluid.
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Metamerism:
A linear series of body segments fundamentally similar in structure.
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Kingdom Animalia:
All multi cellular, eukaryotes.
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Phylum Porifera:
Sponges, multicellular, no symmetry, cells engulf particles skeleton is spicules in protein fibres adults live attached, no respiratory system relies on diffusion across body-surface no circulatory system relies on diffusion no excretory system relies on exocytosis and diffusion reproduction asexual some cells become gametes and asexual by budding no nervous system mainly marine some fresh water.
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Phylum Cnidaria:
Jellyfish multicellular radial symmetry stinging tentacles and gut with one opening hydrostatic skeleton based on the gut plus circular and longitudinal muscles, no respiratory system relies on diffusion across the body-surface no circulatory system relies on diffusion no excretory system relies on diffusion reproduction is sexually usually dioecious some asexual by budding nervous system is nerve net mainly marine some freshwater.
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Phylum Platyhelminthes:
Flat worms multicellular bilateral symmetry gut with one opening and muscular pharynx, some parasitic species with no gut at all absorb food through body covering, may use cilia to creep or contraction subcircular and longitudinal muscles, no respiratory system relies on diffusion across the body-surface no circulatory system relies on diffusion excretory system diffusion into the gut and across the epidermis plus flame cells reproduction asexual mainly hermaphrodite has some dioecious some forms asexual by budding or fission, nerve net or cerebral ganglion with two or more nerve cords sometimes with transversed links. Marine freshwater terrestrial.
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Phylum Annelida:
Segmented worms multicellular bilateral symmetry gut with two openings mouth and anus and sometimes muscular pharynx sometimes muscular gizzard hydrostatic skeleton based on the coelom supplemented by circular and longitudinal muscles, no respiratory system relies on diffusion across the body-surface closed vascular system a little diffusion over the body-surface but mainly paired nephridia in each segment in the excretory system reproduction is sexual, dioecious or hermaphrodite brain ventral nerve cord marine freshwater terrestrial.
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Phylum Mollusca:
Molluscs (snails,octopus), multicellular bilateral symmetry that with two openings mouth and anus some species filter feed using their gills others have a rasping radula some have a hard beak at the mouth, muscular attachment to a shell and the hydroskeleton based on the haemocoel, jet propulsion based on water siphons in some species, respiratory system is gills or mantle cavity modified as a lung, closed vascular system, large paired folded metanphridia thru the excretory system reproduction sexual
usually dioecious metamorphosis common in aquatics forms direct development needed for life on land, brain (cerebral ganglion) with two or more long nerve cords marine freshwater terrestrial.
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Phylum Nematoda:
Round words multicellular bilateral symmetry, gut with two openings mouth and anus and muscular pharynx hydrostatic skeleton based on the pseudocoelom, an external cuticle plus longitudinal muscles, no respiratory system relies on diffusion across the body service circulatory system pseudocoelom, excretory system poorly known but has either a large cervical gland or lateral canals, reproduction sexual dioecious complex life cycles nerve ring around the pharynx with ventral dorsal and lateral nerve cords marine freshwater terrestrial.
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Phylum Arthropoda:
Arthropods, insects, multicellular bilateral symmetry gut with two openings mouth and anus, often specialise mouthparts gut in three sections foregut midgut and , jointed appendages and an exoskeleton, gills, tracheal tubes and spiracles book lungs, open vascular system diffusion across the gills in aquatic forms, malpighian tubes in terrestrial forms sexual dioecious complex life cycles brain ventral nerve cord marine freshwater terrestrial.
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Phylum Echinodermata:
Echinoderms, starfish, multicellular radially symmetrical adults and bilaterally symmetrical larvae, gut with two openings mouth and anus, some filter feed, some can evert their stomach, some have specialised teeth called Aristotle's lantern, endoskeleton of small calcareous plates water vascular system and tube feet, diffusion over the body-surface or the tube feet,coelom and water vascular system, simple nephrida and diffusion over the tube feet and general body-surface reproduction sexual usually with external fertilisation nerve ring radial nerve cords marine
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Maximum sustainable yield:
The largest harvest that can be taken while maintaining a harvested species and an intermediate population size which will grow most rapidly and the conditions of logistic growth.
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Exponential growth:
Growth that occurs when populations increase at a maximum rate under ideal conditions and the whole population multiplied by a constant factor in each generation.
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Flame cell:
The excretory organs in flatworms.
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Logistic growth:
Growth occurring when exponentially growing populations eventually encounter one or more limiting factors constraining further growth.
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Symbiosis:
The living together of two organisms in a close relationship that may or may not be mutually beneficial.
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Mutualism:
Interaction between species where both species benefit.
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Fundamental niche:
The environment in which it is possible for species to grow.
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Realised niche:
Part of the fundamental niche to which it is confined due to competition from other species.
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Commensalism:
Interaction between two species where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.
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Detrivore:
Animals that consume detritus which they use as a source of energy and nutrients.
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Biodiversity:
Genetic variation within organisms, the range of species in , the full spectrum of the worlds ecological communities and their associations with the physical environment.
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Food chain:
The sequence of organisms along which energy and nutrients flow in an ecosystem from primary produces to herbivores to carnivores.
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Food web:
The system of linked or interacting food chains in an ecosystem.
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Decomposers:
Organisms responsible for the decomposition of dead plant and animal material.
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Ecosystem:
A community of living organisms and the physical environment with which they interact.
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Supralittoral zone:
Spray zone
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Eulittoral zone:
Infralittoral zone or intertidal zone.
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Sublittoral zone:
Infralittoral zone or coastal waters, netric zone, sub tidal zone
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Salinity:
The total amount of dissolved ions in water dominated by sodium and chloride in Marine and estuarine waters and in Australian salt lake usually expressed as mg/L or parts per thousand.
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Density:
The number of individuals per-unit area or volume
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Stratification:
The separation of the water column into layers of different densities due to differences in salinity and or temperature
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Barometric tides:
Daily variation in atmospheric pressure due to the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon
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Upwelling:
The rising of deeper colder water to shallower depths.
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Phytoplankton:
Single celled and filamentous algal Protists and cyanobacteria suspended in the water column.
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Zooplankton:
Floating or weakly swimming plankton that rely on water currents to move any great distance.
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Nekton:
Organisms that swim in open water.
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Benthos:
Organisms living on or near the bottom of the sea river or lake.
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Mangrove:
Small trees growing rooted in mud subjected to tidal inundation with a leaf canopy in air above.
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Sea grass:
Flowering plants rooted in sediment and submerged in the Marine or estuarine environment.
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Salt marsh:
The community of plants rooted in sandy or muddy sediment and subjected to tidal all longer term inundation by saline water the community is dominated by shrubby chenopods or rhizomatous rushes or reeds.
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Poikilotherm:
Not regulating body temperature so that it fluctuates with the temperature of the environment
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Homeotherm:
Having the ability to regulate its body temperature at a relatively constant value independent of fluctuations in the temperature of the environment.
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Countercurrents:
The flow of two fluids in opposite directions along two closely opposed vessels, allowing the transfer of heat, solutes gases and so on from one fluid to the other.
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Blood pigments:
Coloured protein compounds that contain metal atoms their function is to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of blood.
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Limnetic zone:
The open water of a shallow wetland divided into euphotic and profundal.
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Littoral zone:
The edge or shore region of a wetland where light penetrates to the substratum.
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Trophogenic (euphotic) zone:
Upper part of the water: sufficiently well illuminated that oxygen production by photosynthesis exceed oxygen consumption in respiration during a 24-hour period
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Epiphyte:
Plants or animals which live attached to plants for example green alga attached to the leaves of seagrass and orchids attached to the stems of tropical trees
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River continuum concept:
The concept that is water flows rapidly from shady headwater streams with much coarse plant debris and passes through reaches of higher order to become sluggish lowland streams, there is a change in the functional feeling groups of invertebrates
142
Functional feeding groups:
Groups of organisms that carry out similar functions in an ecosystem.
143
Stream order:
The numbering of the reaches of a river in which each headwater stream is number one and when it joins another stream it is designated number two and so on
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Biome:
A climactically determined group of plants and animals spread over a wide area
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Conservation biology:
A new integrated science that attempts to conserve biodiversity developed in response to the human induced worldwide wave of habitat destruction and extinction
146
Evolution:
Genetic change in the characteristics of a population of organisms over generations
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Extinction:
The disappearance of the population or species from a given habitat
