Big Idea 3

3)  Eukaryote: A eukaryote is an organism that contains more than one cell and has membrane-bound organelles.  This rhododendron is composed of more than one cell and has organelles such as chloroplasts.

 

7)  Evidence of different alleles for the same trait: Alleles are alternative forms of a gene that occur at the locus.  These two Labrador retrievers have two variations of the hair color allele, one yellow and one black. 

 

8)  Flock, herd, or schooling:  A flock is a group of animals of the same species assembled or crowded together.  The geese in this picture form flocks.

 

10)  Genetically modified organism:  Organisms can be genetically modified by altering genetic material using genetic engineering techniques.  Some crops such as this alfalfa are genetically modified to produce better crop yields.

 

11)  Herbivory responses:  Herbivory responses are adaptations that plants evolve to improve survival and protection against herbivores.  For example, this cactus has thorns that deter animals from eating it to get water.

 

16)  Phenotype:  The phenotype of a trait is the physical or visual appearance of how the gene is expressed.  Ornamental cabbages can have different leaf colors (green, white, pink, and purple), such as this one which has purple leaves.

 

17)  Pollinator:  Pollination is a process whereby pollen is transferred from one plant to another of the same kind in order to produce seeds.  Bees are pollinators, animals that perform pollination.

 

18)  Prokaryote:  A prokaryote is a cell that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus or organelles.  This pond algae is an example of cyanobacteria, a major class of prokaryotes.

 

19)  Seed dispersal method:  Seed dispersal is a methods for moving or transporting seeds away from the parent plant.  The most common methods are by wind, by water or by animals.  For example, squirrels eat acorns and undigested seeds get spread to other places in their waste.   

 

20)  Tropism:  Tropism is the response of an organism towards an external stimulus.  Thigmotropism is a type of tropism in plants, such as this Virginia Creeper vine, in which the plant grows in response to contact with something like a wall or fence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Idea 4

4. Climax Community: A climax community is an ecological community in which all the organisms exist in a state of equilibrium at the final stage of succession. A climax community remains relatively unchanged until it is disrupted by a disaster or some sort of interference. The American River Parkway is an example of a climax community with an abundance of plants and animals that live in harmony with each other. The parkway will remain at this stage until destroyed by a natural event such as flooding or even by human disruption.

5. Commensalism: Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed. Hermit crabs, like the one here, take over the discarded shells of sea snails for shelter and protection. The hermit crab benefits from the shell, while the sea snail is unaffected because the shell was discarded anyways. 

6. Competition: Competition refers to a relationship between organisms in which the presence of one adversely affects the other because they have similar living requirements, such as with regards to food or space. Competition can be between members of two different species (interspecific) or between members of the same species (infraspecific). Interspecific competition for food, space, and other resources exists between these two species of barnacles that reside in the intertidal zone. 

8. Endosperm: An endosperm is a nutritive tissue for a developing plant embryo that is produced around the time of fertilization. It provides nourishment usually in the form of starch, protein, and other nutrients. Flowering plants produce seeds with endosperms, and thus these honeysuckles must reproduce with seeds containing these food stores.   

11. K-strategist: K-strategists are relatively large organisms that have long lifespans, few offspring per each reproductive episode, and invest extensive parental care into their offspring. K-selected organisms are adapted to thrive at the carrying capacity of their population. This eastern bongo is an example of a K-selected organism that bears a small number of large offspring for each of the many reproductive events throughout its life. 

12. Mutualism: Mutualism refers to a relationship between two organisms in which both benefit. Lichens are mutualistic associations between fungi and a partner that can carry out photosynthesis. This sac fungus is growing on a branch of a tree, which is also inhabited by green algae, a photosynthetic organism. The fungus offers protection to the algae, while the algae gives nutrients to the fungus in return, making the relationship mutualistic. 

13. Niche: A niche is a role that an organism plays in its community. More specifically, it refers to all the ways an organism uses the resources of its environment. These mussels are adapted to the extremes of the intertidal niche that they occupy, feeding on plankton and other microscopic organisms and clustering together to reduce individual exposure. 

17. Pioneer Species: Pioneer species are the species that are the first to inhabit an area that has been destroyed or altered. They pave the way for a chain of ecological succession that will eventually lead to a stable environment. Mosses are examples of weedy species that first inhabit barren areas because they are tolerant to the harsh conditions. 

19. Predation: Predation refers to the consumption of an organism (prey) by another (predator). The leaves of this privet hedge are obviously being preyed upon by some sort of herbivore, such as a caterpillar or another leaf-eating insect, causing the holes that are evident in the picture above.

20. R-Strategist: R-strategists are organisms that are characterized by short lifespans and many small offspring that receive no or little parental care per each reproductive event. Ladybugs, like the one pictured, are r-strategists that live up to three years in perfect conditions and produce up to fifty offspring per each of their few reproductive events.

Big Idea 2

 

1)  Adhesion of water:  Adhesion allows polar water molecules to “stick” to other substances due to hydrogen bonding.  The water droplets visible in this picture are exhibiting adhesion to the leaves. 

 

2)  Anabolic:  Chemical reactions that are anabolic construct molecules from smaller units.  Living things such as this peacock build compounds through anabolic reactions.

 

3)  ATP:  Adenosine triphosphate is the main molecule used for short term energy storage in all living things.  This coyote is an example of an organism that produces ATP.





4)  Autotroph:  Autotrophs produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.  These bottlebrush flowers use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make their own food through photosynthesis.

 

5)  Calvin cycle:  The Calvin cycle is one part of photosynthesis in plants.  This process occurs in the chloroplast of C3 plants.  Plants such as this mandarin orange tree undergo the three phases of the Calvin cycle: 1) carbon fixation, 2) reduction, and 3) the regeneration of RuBP.

7)  Catabolic:  A chemical reaction is catabolic when energy is produced by breaking molecules into smaller parts.  Living things such as this bear create energy through catabolic reactions.

 

8)  Cellulose:  Cellulose is a carbohydrate that is the main component of cell walls in green plants.  This bird of paradise is an example of an organism containing cellulose.

 

10)  Cohesion of water:  Cohesion is the property of water that allows multiple water molecules to “stick” together.  Hydrogen bonds hold water molecules together in this pond.

15)  Enzyme:  Enzymes are a group of proteins that are produced by living cells to catalyze metabolic processes.  All living things, including this Heavenly Bamboo plant, produce enzymes.
 

17)  Glycogen:  Glycogen is a polysaccharide of glucose that is present in tissues to store energy.  All animals, including this koi, have glycogen in their bodies.

 

18)  Glycolysis:  Glycolysis is a process in cellular respiration that converts glucose into pyruvate.  All animals including this bobcat perform glycolysis.

19)  Heterotroph:  Heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms.  All animals, such as these turkey, are heterotrophs. 

 

20)  Homeostasis:  Homeostasis is the tendency towards a state of equilibrium by all elements in an organism’s body.  All living things, including this insect, perform homeostasis. 

27)  Kreb’s cycle:  The Kreb’s cycle is one part of cellular respiration in animals where pyruvate is converted into NADH, CO₂, ATP, and FADH₂.  All animals including this raven perform the Kreb’s cycle. 

 

28)  Lactic acid:  Lactic acid is an acid that can be produced during fermentation or anaerobic respiration.  Animals, such as this cat, experience lactic acid fermentation in their muscles and other parts of the body.  

 

30)  Phloem: The phloem of a plant is tissue that transports food (sucrose) and hormones throughout the plant.  The California live oak leaves in this picture contain phloem. 

31)  Phospholipid:  Phospholipids are a class of lipids that are made of two fatty acids, a glycerol, and a phosphate group.  They form bilayers and are divided into a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.  All eukaryotic cells, including the cells of this donkey, contain phospholipids in their cellular membranes.

 

33)  Stomata:  Plants perform the gas interchange through stomata, which are small pores on the epidermis of leaves.  In this process, the stomata allow carbon dioxide into the plant and push water vapor and oxygen out.  All plants, including this philodendron, have stomata.

35)  Territorial behavior:  Territorial behavior includes a variety of actions that animals use to protect their territory from others of the same species.  Tigers exhibit territorial behavior in order to protect themselves and surrounding resources and attract mates.

 

38)  Xylem:  The xylem of a plant is tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals throughout the plant.  This camellia's leaves contain xylem. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Idea 3

1. Diploid: A diploid organism has two homologous copies of each chromosome, usually one from the mother and one from the father. In animals, the diploid number is twice the number of the chromosomes in their gametes. Because nearly all mammals are diploid with only a couple of exceptions, this orangutan is a diploid organism with a diploid number of 48 chromosomes.  

2. Ethylene: Ethylene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon gas that is odorless and flammable. It is found in natural gas, and it also serves as a hormone in plants by stimulating or regulating the ripening of fruit. Because it acts as a regulating hormone in plants, ethylene is used widely in agriculture today to speed up the ripening process. Apples give off a lot of ethylene as they ripen, and thus apples stored with other fruits will cause the other fruits to ripen much faster. 

3. Eukaryote: A eukaryotic organism is an organism whose cells are characterized by membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus that contains linear chromosomes made of DNA and proteins. All animals are eukaryotic organisms, and thus these zebras are eukaryotes, primarily because their cells contain a nucleus. Eukaryote literally means "good nuclei."

7. Evidence of Different Alleles: Alleles are alternate forms of a particular gene that occupy the same locus on a chromosome. Different combinations of alleles yield varying physical appearances or functional expressions of a trait. These flowering plants are both cyclamens; however, because they are different colors, there must be separate alleles that determine the way color is expressed in the flowers. 

8. Flock, Herd, or Schooling: A flock is a number of animals of one kind that live, feed, and travel together, which is beneficial for foraging, protection, and mating. Though they are in a zoo, these flamingos are herded together in a flock rather than spread apart for the advantageous benefits that a flock provides.

10. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): A Genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that has had its genetic material altered such that the organism displays desirable traits and characteristics. Modification is achieved by the mutation, insertion, or deletion of certain genes. In 1994, "Flavr Savr" tomatoes became the first genetically modified crops for sale, and they were altered in order to greatly increase their shelf life. Tomatoes have been the symbol of genetic engineering since its beginning, and scientists are currently working on more techniques to make tomatoes disease and insect resistant.

14. Mitosis: Mitosis is the division of a cell into two identical daughter cells with the same genetic makeup and number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitosis is necessary for growth, development, and tissue renewal. The tips of these roots, which consists of the roots of a palm tree and various succulents, represent mitosis, as the cells of the roots are constantly dividing in search of water and nutrients.

18. Prokaryote:A prokaryotic cell is a cell that lacks a nucleus, has no membrane-bound organelles, and has DNA that exists as a single circular molecule in the nucleoid region of the cell. Prokaryotic organisms include bacteria and archaea, and they are mostly unicellular. Many types of bacteria are encouraged to grow on blue cheese, such as the bacterium Brevibacterium linens, which is responsible for the smell of many blue cheeses. This same bacterium is also responsible for foot odor in humans.

19. Seed Dispersal Method: A seed dispersal method is a way by which a seeds are transported or moved to new areas away from the parent plant. This Coyote Brush shrub has seeds that are aerodynamically designed to be blown long distances by the wind as a method of seed dispersion.

20. Tropism: Tropism refers to the orientation or turning of an organism towards an external stimulus. These cyprus trees on top of a cliff are orienting themselves towards the sunlight in order to maximize photosynthesis and thus to promote growth. This phenomenon is known as positive phototropism.