Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Glossary

1. Independant Variable 
The "independent variables" represent the inputs or causes, or are tested to see if they are the cause.

2. Dependent Variable
The "dependent variable" represents the output or effect, or is tested to see if it is the effect.

3. Control Variable 
The control variable is something that is constant and unchanged in an experiment. Further, a control variable strongly influences values; it is held constant to test the relative impact of independent variables.

4. Qualitative Variable 
Qualitative variables take on values that are names or labels.

5. Quantitative Variable
Quantitative variables are numerical. They represent a measurable quantity.

6. Hypothesis
A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

7. Eukaryotes 
Any of the single-celled or multicellular organisms whose cell contains a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus.

8. Prokaryotes 
A microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include the bacteria and cyanobacteria. 

9. Taxonomy
The classification of organisms in a hierarchical system or in taxonomic ranks (e.g. domainkingdom,phylum or divisionclassgenusspecies) based on shared characteristics or on phylogenetic relationships inferred from the fossil record or established by genetic analysis.

10. Taxon
Any group or rank in a biological classification into which related organisms are classified.

11. Binomial 
Having two names; used of the system by which every animal and plant receives two names, the one indicating the genus, the other the species, to which it belongs.

12. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic, meaning not alive, are nonliving factors that affect living organisms. 

13. Biotic Factors 
Biotic, meaning of or related to life, are living factors. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and bacteria are all biotic or living factors.

14. Habitat
habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animalplant, or other type of organism. It is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilized by) a species population.

15. Ecosystem
system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment(abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.

16. Population
A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

17. Community 
An ecological unit composed of a group of organisms or a population of different species occupying a particular area, usually interacting with each other and their environment.

18. Niche
The specific area where an organism inhabits.

19. Biome
A major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur.

20. Biosphere
 The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life.

21. Pyramid of Numbers
A pyramid of numbers shows the population size of each species in a food chain.

22. Pyramid of Biomass
A pyramid of biomass shows how much ENERGY each animal is getting from its food.

23. Biomass 
The total mass of all living material in a specific area, habitat, or region.

24. Predator - prey relationship 
An interaction between two organisms of unlike species in which one of them acts as predator that captures and feeds on the other organism that serves as the prey.

25. Commensalism
A form of symbiosis between two organisms of different species in which one of them benefits from the association whereas the other is largely unaffected or not significantly harmed or benefiting from the relationship. 

26. Ammensalism 
Ammensalism occurs when one species hurts another, but does not benefit from this interaction.

27. Mutualism 
symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which both individuals benefit from the association. In this type of symbiosis, both organisms of different species rely on one another for nutrients, protection and other life functions, hence, they are usually found living in close proximity.

28. Symbiosis 
relationship between different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other. 

29. Parasitism

A relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing it.

Sources: http://www.biology-online.org/ 

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