Untitled Document (2) PDF - Biology Notes

1. Matter – Anything that has mass and occupies space. 2. Energy – The ability to do work or cause change. 3. Producer – Organisms that produce their own food, usually through photosynthesis (e.g., plants). 4. Consumer – Organisms that obtain energy by eating producers or other consumers (e....

1. Matter – Anything that has mass and occupies space. 2. Energy – The ability to do work or cause change. 3. Producer – Organisms that produce their own food, usually through photosynthesis (e.g., plants). 4. Consumer – Organisms that obtain energy by eating producers or other consumers (e.g., animals). 5. Decomposers – Organisms that break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients into the ecosystem (e.g., fungi, bacteria). 6. Atom – The smallest unit of an element, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. 7. Molecule – Two or more atoms bonded together. 8. Cell – The basic unit of life, capable of performing all life processes. 9. Phytoplankton – Tiny, photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments that form the base of many aquatic food chains. 10. Zooplankton – Small, usually microscopic animals that feed on phytoplankton. 11. Three types of carbon-based molecules found in food – ○ Carbohydrates (energy source), ○ Proteins (build and repair tissues), ○ Lipids (fats) (store energy and form cell membranes). 12. Chemical Reaction – A process where substances (reactants) are transformed into different substances (products). 13. Reactant – A substance that participates in a chemical reaction. 14. Product – A substance produced in a chemical reaction. 15. Photosynthesis – The process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy stored as glucose. 16. Chloroplast – Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place. 17. Cellular Respiration – The process by which cells break down glucose and other molecules to produce energy in the form of ATP. 18. Mitochondria – Organelles in cells where cellular respiration occurs. 19. Food Chain – A linear sequence of organisms through which energy and nutrients flow. 20. Food Web – A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. 21. Energy Pyramid – A diagram that shows the amount of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem. 22. Ecosystem – A community of organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. 23. Carbon Cycle – The process by which carbon is exchanged between living organisms, the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth. 24. Species – A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. 25. Population – A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area. 26. Community – A group of different species living together in the same area. 27. Biotic Factors – The living components of an ecosystem (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria). 28. Abiotic Factors – The non-living components of an ecosystem (e.g., temperature, water, sunlight).  29. Limiting Factors – Environmental factors that limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism. 30. Carrying Capacity – The maximum population size an environment can support. 31. Predator – An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals (its prey). 32. Prey – An organism that is hunted and eaten by a predator. 33. Competition – The struggle between organisms for resources like food, space, and mates. 34. Symbiosis – A close, long-term interaction between two different species. 35. Mutualism – A type of symbiosis where both species benefit (e.g., bees and flowers). 36. Commensalism – A type of symbiosis where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed (e.g., barnacles on a whale). 37. Parasitism – A type of symbiosis where one species benefits at the expense of the other (e.g., ticks on a dog). Herbivore – An animal that eats plants. Carnivore – An animal that eats other animals. Omnivore – An animal that eats both plants and animals. Meteorology and Atmospheric Terms: 1. Atmosphere – The layer of gases surrounding Earth. 2. Air Pressure – The force exerted by the weight of air above. 3. High Pressure – A region where air pressure is higher than surrounding areas, often associated with clear, dry weather. 4. Low Pressure – A region where air pressure is lower than surrounding areas, often associated with cloudy, rainy weather. 5. Density – The mass per unit volume of a substance. 6. Thermal Expansion – The increase in the volume of a substance as it is heated. 7. Thermal Contraction – The decrease in the volume of a substance as it cools. 8. Sea Breeze – A cool breeze that blows from the sea toward the land, usually during the day. 9. Land Breeze – A cool breeze that blows from the land toward the sea, usually at night. 10. Coriolis Effect – The deflection of moving objects (like air or water) due to Earth's rotation. 11. Polar Easterlies – Winds that blow from east to west near the poles. 12. Westerlies – Winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes. 13. Trade Winds – Winds that blow from east to west in the tropics. 14. Horse Latitudes – Areas of high pressure and calm winds located around 30° latitude. 15. Doldrums – A region near the equator with very little wind. 16. Radiation – The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves (e.g., sunlight). 17. Conduction – The transfer of heat through direct contact between molecules. 18. Convection – The transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). 19. Gyre – Large circular ocean currents created by global wind patterns and Earth's rotation. 20. Surface Currents – Ocean currents that occur at or near the surface, driven by wind. 21. Salinity – The concentration of dissolved salts in water. 22. Thermohaline Current – Deep ocean currents driven by differences in water temperature and salinity. 23. Gulf Stream – A warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows along the eastern coast of North America. 24. Upwelling – The upward movement of cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths. 25. Sublimation – The process where a solid changes directly into a gas without passing through the liquid phase (e.g., ice turning into vapor). 26. Transpiration – The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves. 27. Evaporation – The process by which liquid water turns into water vapor. 28. Condensation – The process by which water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water. 29. Dew Point – The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and condensation occurs. 30. Precipitation – Water that falls to Earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. 31. Deposition – The process where water vapor changes directly into solid ice without becoming liquid (e.g., frost formation). 32. Water Cycle – The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. 33. Runoff – Water that flows over the ground surface into rivers, lakes, or oceans. 34. Infiltration – The process by which water enters the soil. 35. Groundwater – Water that exists below the Earth's surface, stored in aquifers.