Ecology Key Terms and Population Study

Contains DNA, controls cell activities like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. It's the brain of the cell.

Jelly-like fluid that fills the cell, containing organelles and enzymes. It's the cell's workshop.

A semi-permeable barrier made of a phospholipid bilayer that controls what goes in and out of the cell.

A rigid structure outside the cell membrane, made of cellulose in plants or chitin in fungi. It gives the cell shape and support.

Double-membraned organelle with folded inner membrane, responsible for aerobic respiration and energy production.

Organelle found in plant cells containing chlorophyll, responsible for photosynthesis. They harness light energy.

Small organelles found free in the cytoplasm or attached to the ER, responsible for protein synthesis.

Large central sac in plants, smaller in animals. It stores water, nutrients, and waste.

The movement of particles from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration.

The movement of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to a region of low water concentration.

The difference in concentration between two regions. A steeper gradient means faster diffusion or osmosis.

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Increase in CO2 concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis until another factor becomes limiting (e.g., light intensity).

Higher light intensity boosts the rate of photosynthesis, but it plateaus when the plant reaches its maximum capacity.

Optimal temperature increases enzyme activity in photosynthesis, but too high temperatures can cause the enzymes to denature (lose their shape).

The ratio of surface area to volume. A larger surface area to volume ratio allows for faster diffusion.

The process of filtering waste products from the blood in the kidneys.

The process where useful substances like water, glucose, and amino acids are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream from the filtered fluid in the kidneys.

Liquid waste produced by the kidneys containing excess water, salts, and urea.

The maintenance of a constant internal environment within an organism, despite changes to the external environment.

A change in the surroundings that an organism can detect and respond to.

The ability of organisms to detect and react to environmental changes to ensure survival and maintain homeostasis.

Maintaining a constant internal body temperature.

The process of regulating the amount of water in the body to prevent dehydration or overhydration of cells.

The entire set of DNA in an organism, containing all the genetic information needed for its growth, development, and functioning.

A specific segment of DNA located on chromosomes that codes for a particular protein. Genes determine inherited traits and can be expressed as physical characteristics.

A membrane-bound structure in eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material (DNA).

Long, coiled structures made of DNA and proteins. Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in each cell.

Alternative forms of a gene that can exist in different versions. Alleles determine the variations of inherited characteristics (e.g., eye colour, hair texture).

An allele that expresses its trait even if only one copy is present (e.g., "A" for brown eyes).

An allele that only expresses its trait if two copies are present (e.g., "a" for blue eyes).

When an individual has two identical alleles for a gene (e.g., "AA" or "aa").

A method used to estimate the number of organisms in a specific area by sampling a smaller, representative portion of that area. It is based on the assumption that the sampled area is a miniature representation of the whole area.

Factors in an ecosystem that are non-living, such as temperature, water availability, sunlight, and soil type, which influence the survival and distribution of organisms.

Factors in an ecosystem that are living, such as competition, predation, and disease, which affect the survival and distribution of organisms.

Organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis, forming the foundation of the food chain. Examples include plants and algae.

Herbivores or plant eaters that consume producers, occupying the second trophic level in a food chain.

Carnivores that consume primary consumers, occupying the third trophic level in a food chain.

Predators that consume secondary consumers, occupying the fourth trophic level in a food chain.

Organisms that break down dead organisms and waste products, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Yeast performs anaerobic respiration, which is also known as fermentation. This process generates carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a byproduct, causing the dough to rise.

The rate of CO₂ production is a reliable indicator of how actively yeast is undergoing anaerobic respiration. By measuring the amount of CO₂ produced under different conditions, we can study the factors affecting yeast fermentation.

Lactobacillus, a type of bacteria, is essential for the production of yoghurt. These bacteria ferment lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid, which causes the milk proteins to thicken and solidify, creating the characteristic yoghurt texture.

Industrial fermenters are large-scale bioreactors designed to cultivate microorganisms like yeast, bacteria, and fungi for various purposes, including food production, medicine, and enzymes.

Industrial fermenters are equipped with aseptic conditions to prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms. This ensures that only the desired microbes grow and produce the desired products.

Industrial fermenters provide a controlled environment with optimal nutrients, temperature, and pH for the growth and activity of the microorganisms.

Selective breeding in plants is a process where humans intentionally select parent plants with desirable traits to produce offspring with enhanced characteristics. This process involves multiple generations of cross-pollination and selection to stabilize the desired traits.

Selective breeding aims to develop plants with characteristics that benefit humans, such as higher yield, resistance to diseases, and improved taste. These improved traits lead to more productive crops and ultimately benefit food production and agriculture.