Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Diversity of Living Things Vocabulary List Abdomen: The arthropod body region behind the thorax. Adaptation: Change in the biology of an organism over time in response to the environment. Algae: Small green plants that live in aquatic environments. Amphibian: A vertebrate whose life cycle has both aquatic and terrestrial phases. Animalia: The Kindom of animals. Antenna: One of the paired appendages at the top of the head of many arthropods. Anterior: Towards the front of an organism. Antibiotics: Substances found in the blood that produce immunity against certain micro-organisms that attack the body. Appendage: Any protuberance from the body, especially legs and arms. Aquatic: Concerned or relating to water. Arthropods: Invertebrate animals with a hard external skeleton and paired legs. Autotrophic: A terms that describes organisms (like green plants) that manufacture their own food. Bacteria: Simple one-celled organisms (in the Phylum Protista) that commonly cause disease. Bilateral Symmetry: A term that describes organisms (like vertebrates) in which one half of the body is a mirror image of the other. Biological Classification: The process of grouping organisms into the Linnaean hierarchy. Biologist: A person who studies the science of life.
1 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Biology: The study of life and living things. Biosphere: The part of the Earth where living organisms exist. Blood: A fluid circulated by the heart that carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the body. Blood Cells: Cells (red and white) that are present in the blood. Blood Vessels: The hollow tubes through which blood travels. Bone: The hard substance that forms the skeleton. Botanist: A person who studies plants. Botany: The study of plants. Camouflage: The means by which an organism disguises itself. Carbon Dioxide: A clear, odorless waste gas produced by cells. Carnivore: An organism that primarily eats meat. Cartilage: A flexible supporting tissue often found in joints. Cell: The fundamental unit of an organism consisting of nuclei and cytoplasm; it is surrounded by a membrane or cell wall. Chemical: A non-living substance with certain distinct properties. Chlorophyll: A green compound (important in photosynthesis) found in most plants. Cilia: Short hair-like processes on cells, often used for movement. Circulatory System: The system of the human body that is responsible for moving fluid around the body. Class: The level of the Linnaean hierarchy immediately below the phylum. Classification: The arrangement of living things into natural groups. Climate: The type of weather experienced by a particular area. Cold-blooded: A term used to describe organisms that cannot strictly control their own body temperature. Community: A group of animals and plants living in a particular environment. Competition: The struggle of plants and animals to acquire limited resources (for example, food).
2 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Conservation: Managing and maintaining natural resources. Consumers: Organisms in the food chain that mainly depend upon food energy for life and growth. Crustacean: A member of a group of arthropods that includes crabs and lobsters. Decomposers: Organisms that break down dead matter into different chemicals. Dichotomous Key: A chart used to identify organisms using a biological classification. Diet: The food an organism normally eats. Digestive System: The body system that breaks down foods into molecules that can be absorbed. Disease: A decline of the body due to a condition that is identified by signs and symptoms. Dissect: To cut apart a non-living organism. Ecology: The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. Ecosystem: A community of organisms and their environment. Embryo: An early stage in the development of an organism. Endoskeleton: The supporting tissues of vertebrates that are situated within the body. Energy: The capacity of a system to do work. Environment: All of the conditions that an organism experiences. Evolution: The change of all life forms over time. Exoskeleton: The supporting tissues of some in vertebrates that lie on the outside of the body. Extinct: A term used to describe a species in which all members have died. Family: The level of the Linnaean hierarchy between order and genus. Fertilization: The fusion of male and females reproductive cells. Fish: The group of vertebrates that have gills and fins. Food Chain: The passing of energy from one organism to another as each consumes a lower member and in turn is preyed upon by a higher member. Food Web: All interconnected food chains in a community.
3 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Fossil: Any trace of prehistoric life. Fungi A group of plants that lack chlorophyll. Genus: The level of the Linnaean hierarchy immediately above the species. Gestation: The period (in mammals) between conception and birth. Growth: The incorporation of energy into an organism. Habitat The area in which an organism normally lives. Herbivore: An organism that primarily eats plants. Hibernation: An extended period of sleep experienced by some animals over the winter. Host: An organism that provides a parasite with home and protection. Hypothesis: A statement that predicts a result. Immune System: The cells of the body that try to prevent disease. Infection: An invasion of the body by microorganisms that causes disease. Inference: The logical extension of the known to the unknown. Internal Organs: The organs of the chest and abdominal cavities. Invertebrate: An animal that lacks a backbone. Joint: The place where two bones meet. Juvenile: A youthful stage in an organisms life cycle. Kingdom: The highest level of biological classification. Larva: Immature animal forms. Lichen: An organism made up of symbiotic algae and fungi living together. Life Cycle: The cycle of life of members of a particular species. Locomotion An organisms mechanism of moving around. Mammal: Warm-blooded animals with backbones and fur. Membrane: A thin layer of tissue surround an organ or part of the body. Metabolism: The basic processes of life.
4 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Metamorphosis: A transformation in the anatomy of an individual organism. Microscope: An instrument used to magnify an image of a small object. Mimicry: The resemblance of one organism to another for disguise or protection. Mollusk: A member of the phylum that include snails, clams, and squid. Monera: The kingdom of life that includes bacteria and blue-green algae. Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both benefit. Nervous System: The system that allows the body to control and respond to movement. Niche: The role an organism plays in its environment. Nocturnal: Relating to the night. Notochord: The rod of cartilage that runs down the back in vertebrates. Nucleus: A central mass found in plant and animal cells that functions in growth and reproduction. Nutrients: All of the compounds required by an organism to function. Omnivore: An organism that normally eats both plants and animals. Operculum: The bony plate that covers the gills in bony fish. Order: The level of classification immediately above the family. Organ: A part of a living thing that has a particular function and distinguishing properties (e.g. the liver). Organ System: A group of organs within the body that carry out specific activities. Organisms: Living creatures that have independent metabolisms. Oxygen: A gas essential to animal cells. Parasite: An organism that feeds on or in and usually harms a host organism. Pathogen: An organism or compound that causes a disease. Photosynthesis: The process (found in green plants) in which food is made from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Phylum: The level of the Linnaean hierarchy immediately below the Kingdom.
5 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Plankton: Floating plants and animals. Pollen: Male plant reproductive seeds. Polyp: An individual coral organism. Population: A group of organisms sharing certain genetic characteristics. Posterior: Towards the back end of an organism. Predator: An organism that normally hunts other organisms. Prey: An organism that is normally hunted by other organisms. Primary Consumers: Organisms that eat primary producers. Primary Producers: Organisms that convert light energy into food energy through photosynthesis. Producers: Organisms in the food chain that convert light energy into food energy. Protozoan: A member of the phylum of organisms that normally has a single cell and a nucleus. Range: The territory in which an organism (or population) normally exists. Reproduction: The process through which animals and plants produce new individuals. Reptile: A member of the class of vertebrates that includes lizards and snakes. Scavenger: An organism that actively feeds upon dead or decaying tissues. School: A group of fishes clustered together for protection and food gathering. Secondary Consumers: Organisms that eat primary consumers or other secondary consumers. Solar: Relating to the sun. Species: Organisms that can reproduce with one another. Symbiosis: A relationship between two organisms of different species that each individual requires. Taxonomy: The science of biological classification. Terrestrial: Concerned or relating to land.
6 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM
Science Trek/Diversity of Living Th...lassroom Connection/Vocabulary List
http://www.sciencetrek.net/vocablistliving.htm
Tetrapod: A member of the amphibian, reptile, bird or mammal classes. Thorax: The arthropod body region ahead of the abdomen. Top Predator: A predator that is not preyed upon by other predators. Vertebra: One of the bones in the back. Vertebrate: An animal with a backbone. Virus: A non-living entity that depends on living cells for metabolism and reproduction. Warm-blooded: A term used to describe organisms that can control their own body temperature through their metabolism. Zoologist: A person who studies the science of animals. Zoology: The branch of biology that deals with the study of animals.
Diversity of Living Things Exhibit Index || Living Things Pavilion
For more information, feel free to contact: Vic D'Amico, Rheal Dumont or Chris Chapman NECTAR Foundation 10 Bowhill Avenue Nepean, Ontario, K2E 6S7 Phone: 613-224-3031 fax 613 - 224 -1946 email: nectar@occdsb.on.ca web page: http://www.nectar.on.ca
7 of 7
5/6/00 12:07 AM