GEC EL 3 Semi-Finals Exam Notes PDF

# GEC EL 3 NOTES FOR SEMI-FINALS EXAM ## Abiotic factors - Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, and soil. ## Abscisic acid - A plant hormone involved in stress responses, including drought and seed dormancy. ## Adaptation - A genetic trait or behavior that increases...

# GEC EL 3 NOTES FOR SEMI-FINALS EXAM ## Abiotic factors - Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, and soil. ## Abscisic acid - A plant hormone involved in stress responses, including drought and seed dormancy. ## Adaptation - A genetic trait or behavior that increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in its environment. ## Afforestation - The process of planting trees in an area that was not previously forested. ## Agricultural runoff - Water that flows off agricultural lands, often carrying fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments into nearby water bodies. ## Air pollution - The presence of harmful substances in the air, such as gases, particulates, and chemicals. ## Algae - Simple, photosynthetic organisms found in water, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to large seaweeds. ## Animal grazing - The act of herbivorous animals feeding on grass or other vegetation. ## Atmospheric factors - Elements of the atmosphere, such as temperature, humidity, and wind, that influence climate and ecosystems. ## Autotrophs - Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis (e.g., plants, algae). ## Auxin - A plant hormone that regulates growth, particularly cell elongation and responses to light and gravity. ## Biomagnification - The increasing concentration of a substance (typically toxins like mercury or pesticides) as it moves up the food chain. ## Birds - Warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by feathers, beaks, and laying hard-shelled eggs. ## Carbon dioxide - A colorless gas essential for photosynthesis in plants and a significant greenhouse gas. ## Carrying capacity - The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain over time without degradation. ## Chemotropism - The growth or movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus. ## Climate - The long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in a particular region. ## Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperature, weather patterns, and environmental conditions, often driven by human activity. ## Climber - A plant that grows upward by attaching itself to supports, such as other plants or structures, using tendrils or modified stems. ## Coal power - The generation of electricity by burning coal to produce heat, which drives steam turbines. ## Conservation - The protection, preservation, and management of natural resources and ecosystems. ## Consumers - Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms; includes herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores ## Coral bleaching - The loss of color in corals due to stress, often from elevated water temperatures, causing them to expel symbiotic algae. ## Corals - Marine invertebrates that form large colonies and build calcium carbonate skeletons, often creating coral reefs. ## Creeper - A plant that spreads along the ground or climbs over surfaces, often using tendrils or other adaptations. ## Decomposition - Breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, fungi, and other decomposers, recycling nutrients into the ecosystem. ## Deforestation - Large-scale removal of forests, often for agricultural or urban development, leading to loss of biodiversity and habitat. ## Demography - The study of populations, including their size, structure, distribution, and changes over time. ## Desertification - Process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically due to drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. ## Dispersal - Movement of organisms or seeds from their place of origin to new locations, facilitating species spread and colonization. ## Ecosystem - A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, functioning as a unit. ## Edaphic - Relating to soil characteristics and conditions, such as its composition, texture, and nutrient content. ## Emigration - The movement of individuals out of a population or country. ## Employment - The condition of having a job or being engaged in productive work. ## Endangered species - Species that are at risk of extinction due to factors like habitat loss, poaching, or environmental changes. ## Evolution - Process by which species change over time through variations in traits, genetic mutations, and natural selection. ## Extinct species - Species that no longer exist anywhere on Earth. ## Fauna - The animal life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. ## Flora - The plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. ## Food chain - A linear sequence of organisms where each is consumed by the next higher trophic level, representing the flow of energy. ## Frugivorous - Organisms that primarily consume fruits as their main source of food. ## Fungi - A kingdom of organisms, including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms, that decompose organic matter and can form symbiotic relationships. ## Geotropism - Plant growth response to gravity, with roots growing downward and stems upward. ## Granivorous - Organisms that primarily eat seeds. ## Grass - A type of flowering plant in the Poaceae family, characterized by narrow leaves and hollow stems. ## Greenhouse - A structure for growing plants in a controlled environment, using transparent materials. ## Growth rate - The speed at which an organism increases in size or mass over time. ## Habitat - The natural environment where a species lives. ## Habitat destruction - Process that makes a habitat unable to support its native species, often due to human activities. ## Heliotropism - Plant growth that orients towards sunlight. ## Herb - A non-woody plant valued for its flavor, scent, or medicinal properties. ## Heterotrophs - Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. ## Human activities - Actions by humans that impact the environment and society. ## Hydroelectric power - Electricity generated from the energy of flowing or falling water. ## Hydrotropism - Plant root growth response to moisture levels in the soil. ## Immigration - Movement of individuals into a new area or country to settle. ## Industrial waste - Unwanted materials produced from industrial processes. ## Inflation - The rise in prices of goods and services over time, reducing money's purchasing power. ## Invasive species - Non-native species that spread rapidly and disrupt local ecosystems. ## Light - Electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye, essential for photosynthesis in plants. ## Limiting factor - An environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or population. ## Mellivorous - Organisms that primarily feed on nectar. ## Methane - A colorless, odorless gas (CH4) that is a potent greenhouse gas and a byproduct of organic matter decomposition. ## Mutualism - A symbiotic relationship between two species where both benefit. ## Native species - Species that naturally occur in a specific region or ecosystem. ## Natural disaster - A catastrophic event caused by natural processes of the Earth, such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes. ## Niche - Role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms. ## Nitrogen - A colorless, odorless gas (N2) that makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere and is essential for the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides. ## Non-native species - Species that are introduced to an area where they do not naturally occur, often referred to as exotic or invasive if they disrupt local ecosystems. ## Oil spills - Accidental release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, particularly marine areas, causing ecological damage. ## Overfishing - The depletion of fish stocks due to catching fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce. ## Ovivorous - Organisms that primarily feed on eggs. ## Oxygen - A colorless, odorless gas (O2) essential for respiration in most living organisms and produced during photosynthesis. ## Parasitism - A symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another (the host). ## PH levels - A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. ## Photosynthesis - The process by which green plants and some organisms convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose) using carbon dioxide and water. ## Phytoplankton - Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms found in aquatic environments, serving as a primary food source in marine and freshwater ecosystems. ## Plant hormones - Chemical substances produced in plants that regulate growth, development, and responses to environmental stimuli. ## Plants - Multicellular organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis and have cell walls made of cellulose. ## Pollution - The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment, adversely affecting ecosystems and human health. ## Polyethylene - A common synthetic polymer used in a wide range of products, including plastic bags and containers, known for its durability and versatility. ## Population - A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time. ## Population density - The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume. ## Precipitation - Any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail. ## Predation - The biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey). ## Producers - Organisms, primarily plants and some microbes, that produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain. ## Reforestation - The process of replanting trees in an area where forests have been depleted or destroyed. ## Reproduction - The biological process by which organisms produce offspring to ensure the continuation of their species. ## Salinity - The concentration of dissolved salts, especially sodium chloride, in water. ## Sanguivorous - Organisms that feed on the blood of other animals. ## Sea grasses - Flowering plants that grow in marine environments, providing important ecosystems for marine life. ## Seaweeds - Marine plants or algae, typically multicellular, that grow in the ocean . ## Sedge - A type of grass-like plant that typically grows in wet, marshy areas, often with triangular stems. ## Shrub - A small to medium-sized woody plant, typically with multiple stems arising from the base. ## Soil - The upper layer of earth where plants grow, composed of minerals, organic matter, air, and water. ## Soil acidity - The measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in soil, indicating how acidic or alkaline it is (pH scale). ## Soil fertility - The ability of soil to provide essential nutrients in sufficient quantities to support plant growth. ## Soil moisture - The amount of water contained in the soil, available for plant use. ## Soil texture - The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in the soil, influencing its drainage and nutrient-holding capacity. ## Solar power - Energy derived from the sun, typically captured by solar panels and converted into electricity. ## Succession - The gradual process of change in the composition of an ecosystem over time, especially after a disturbance. ## Temperature - A measure of the warmth or coldness of a substance, often used to describe the weather or environment. ## Territory - An area defended by an animal or group, often to ensure access to resources such as food and mates. ## Thigmotropism - The growth or movement of a plant in response to touch or physical contact. ## Tree - A perennial plant with an elongated stem (trunk), supporting branches and leaves, typically growing to significant height. ## Tropism - A directional growth or movement response of a plant to an environmental stimulus (e.g., light, gravity, or touch). ## Urbanization - The process by which cities and towns are formed and grow, often involving the conversion of natural areas into developed infrastructure. ## Volcanic eruptions - The explosive or effusive release of magma, gas, and ash from a volcano to the Earth's surface. ## War - A conflict between groups or nations, often involving armed forces and resulting in significant social, economic, and environmental impacts. ## Water - A colorless, odorless liquid (H2O) essential for all known forms of life, covering about 71% of the Earth's surface. ## Weather - The atmospheric conditions in a specific area at a given time, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind. ## Wind - The movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, influenced by temperature differences and the Earth's rotation. ## Wind power - Energy generated from the kinetic energy of wind, typically harnessed using wind turbines to produce electricity. ## Wind speed - The rate at which air moves, often measured in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h), affecting weather patterns and energy generation.