Biological Collection Photo Blog - Sarah E

This blog defines and explains 25 biology vocabulary terms. An example picture is provided for each expression as a reference.  A gold necklace is found in every photograph to prove the authenticity of this blog.

                                 Abiotic - The prefix A- means "without." Therefore, the term a biotic refers to something that's always been without life (non-living). It's a naturally occurring chemical or physical element that supports living organisms. Examples include rocks, water, the sun, soil, and oxygen. Many of these abiotic elements undergo a displacement of their location or form through cycles (storage and release or movement around the globe). They are included in every environment. Explanation : A rock is pictured above. This non-living part of an ecosystem represents something that's abiotic.

                                    Adaptation of an Animal -  An animal's ultimate goal is survival (avoiding extinction). This requires a species to have techniques for obtaining food and water, successfully reproducing, and protecting themselves from abiotic and biotic conflicts (like predators or harsh climates). An animal adaptation is any physical characteristic or behavioral habit that benefit's an animal's odds of survival. Examples include protective shells, colorful or bland markings, long necks, thick fur, larger ears, and extra bones. Explanation : A turtle is pictured above. This organism has adapted to its environment by developing permanent armor for predator and heat protection. When threatened by carnivores or heat prostration, a turtle hides in its tough shell to avoid confrontation with either of these conflicts. Its shell is also used to camouflage...

                                  Adaptation of a Plant - A plant adaptation is any inheritable feature that's developed to help a plant species grow, avoid damage from climate/predators, and easily reproduce.  They are meant to increase the probability of a plant's survival.  Examples include water retention, changes in leaf size, development of poisonous parts, and colorful flowers. Explanation: A cattail is pictured above. This plant adapts to living in both fresh and brackish water by developing extra space in its leaves, roots, and stem. This extra space allows needed oxygen to accumulate in the plant on warmer days when the dissolved oxygen concentration is significantly lower. Cattails also increase their survival rate by reproducing with both rhizomes and seeds. The seeds are covered in fuzz that makes transportation to a suitable growing environment easier.

  Asexual Reproduction - Asexual reproduction describes the formation of offspring without fertilization, gametes (reproductive cells), or the exchange of genetic material with a second organism. Because this process only requires one parent, offspring are always genetically identical.  This is necessary for single-celled organisms (bacteria/archaea) and some plant varieties. Two common methods of asexual reproduction include binary fission (division of the parent organism) and fragmentation (splitting off parts of an organism; common in plants). Explanation: The plant pictured above has grown multiple stolon (runner) plants that are still attached to the parent plant. Since they are genetically identical to the original vegetation, these stolons are considered to be a product of asexual reproduction; once these runners are detached from the parent plant, fragmentation will have occurred.

                                        Autotroph -  Since -troph refers to nourishment and auto- relates to independence, autotrophs are organisms that are capable of producing their own nourishment (food).  Commonly known as producers, autotrophs convert simple, inorganic substances to consumable energy forms (like glucose). Examples of autotrophs are plants, algae, and phytoplankton. Many autotrophs are commonly found near sunlight, but producers like methanogens (methane-producing bacteria) are located on the ocean floor. Explanation : Grass is pictured above. This autotroph makes its own food by using the sun's light energy for photosynthesis.

                                    Basidiomycete - Many fungi use spores for reproduction. A basidiomycete is any filamentous fungi that sexually reproduces with basidia cells. The basidia, located on the surface of a fungi's gill (the ribbed underside of a fungus), are club-shaped structures that contain spores. Because of the basidia's shape, basidiomycetes are often called club fungi. Explanation : A mushroom is pictured above. Since the mushroom has club-shaped reproductive cells underneath it's cap (basidia), it's a basidiomycete.

                         Bilateral Symmetry - Bilateral symmetry occurs when the left and right sides of an organism are completely identical to each other. This interchangeable imaging of the sagittal plane is common with tree leaves, butterflies, wolves, birds, and fish. Explanation: A tree leaf is pictured above. A proof object vertically divides the leaf into left and right sides.  Since these two halves are identical to each other, the leaf is an example of bilateral symmetry.

                                        Camouflage - Camouflage is a color adaption that helps organisms disguise their appearance or blend into their environment.  It works as both a protective and strategic survival tool; prey can avoid predators and predators can stalk prey without being noticed. Examples of camouflage include chameleons, praying mantises, cheetahs, deer, and rabbits. Explanation : A grasshopper is pictured above. It's green and brown coloring help it blend in (camouflage) with the green and brown vegetation.

                                       Commensalism - Commensalism describes an interactive (symbiotic) relationship between two organisms, when one organism benefits and the other remains unaffected. Examples include whales and barnacles, sharks and remora fish, and trees and birds. Explanation : A tree with a bird's nest is pictured above. This nest resembles the benefit that birds receive from interacting with trees. The relationship between a bird and a tree is commensalism since the bird acquires a new nursery, while the tree remains unaffected by the new assemblage.

                                    Cuticle of a Plant - The plant cuticle is a waxy, water-repelling layer on top of a plant's epidermis that covers the surface of a plant's leaves, flowers, fruits, and stem. It acts as a protective barrier to prevent excess water loss from transpiration. This plant adaptation is particularly useful during drought-like conditions or with plants that require full sun exposure. Explanation : Pictured above is a plant's leaf. The shiny outer layer is the cuticle that covers the leaf. The water on the leaf doesn't soak through since the cuticle is hydrophobic.

                                      Ectotherm - An ectotherm, also known as a cold-blooded organism, is any animal whose body temperature is dependent on the temperature of its environment. Common examples of cold-blooded organisms are reptiles and amphibians. Explanation : A salamander is pictured above. This amphibian is an ectotherm since its body temperature is dependent on the heat of its surroundings.

                                Epithelial Tissue - Epithelial tissue is a thin layer of tissue that lines the external surfaces and internal organs of an organism's body. Epithelial tissue is important for protecting against harmful microorganisms, absorbing nutrients, and secreting essential enzymes and fluids (like mucus). Explanation : Pictured above is a slug. A slug's skin consists of epithelial tissue that secretes mucus to prevent dehydration and help with movement.

                                  Exoskeleton - An exoskeleton is a tough, outer layer that provides organisms with protection and reinforcement. Because organisms with exoskeletons often lack an internal bone structure, they have joints that help with the exoskeleton's range of movement. Many arthropods (insects, spiders, and crustaceans) have exoskeletons. Explanation : A  cicada shell is pictured above. This exoskeleton provided the cicada with support and protection until it was outgrown.

                                    Flower Ovary - The flower ovary is one of a plant's female reproductive organs. It's usually located at the base of a flower and holds ovules (the flower's eggs). Upon fertilization, the ovules develop into seeds and the ovary matures into a fruit. Roses have particularly prominent ovaries. Explanation : A rose's ovary is pictured above. It's located just below the flower and will eventually produce seeds.

                                       Frond - A frond is a long, large leaf characterized by separated segments. Most fronds grow directly from the stem or ground; others grow in clusters at the top of a plant's base. Palm trees and ferns both have fronds. Explanation : A fern is pictured above. This is an example of a frond since each leaf grows from the plant's base and has numerous divisions.

Heterotroph - The phrase hetero- means "different," while -troph means "nourishment." A heterotroph is any organism that obtains its  nourishment  from a different source . To gain energy, heterotrophs consume other organisms. They're often referred to as primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Examples include foxes, rabbits, wolves, squirrels, and snails. Explanation : A toad is pictured above. This toad is an example of a heterotroph because it's source of nutrients is other organisms.

                              Lichen - Lichen is formed as a result of a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides the cyanobacteria/algae with protection and the algae/cyanobacteria use photosynthesis to provide the fungus with nutrients. Lichen is plant-like in appearance and slowly branches across rocks, walls, and tree bark. Although it doesn't have roots, lichen also feeds off of dead matter as another source of nutrients. Explanation : Lichen is pictured above. Its green pigment helps with photosynthesis and comes from the algae/cyanobacteria. The fungus provides a both a physical body and protection for the algae/cyanobacteria.

                                        Mating Behavior - Mating behavior is any characteristic, habit, or interaction between organisms whose main purpose is assisting in reproduction. This includes parental care, length of partnership (lifelong vs. temporary), mate selection, courtship, and intercourse. Explanation : A male and a female insect from the same species is pictured above. They  are currently practicing mating behavior. The male insect has selected and courted a female to reproduce with. They are now engaging in copulation (sexual intercourse).

                                   Mimicry - Mimicry describes the close resemblance between two organisms of a different species or an organism and a body part of a different species. This adaptation is a tactic used by prey to repel and deceive predators. Examples include a coral snake vs. a king snake, an owl moth vs. an owl, and a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. Explanation : A beetle is pictured above. To help repel predators, this beetle has bright yellow markings that either resemble the yellow ring of a carpenter bee or a large eye.

  Mutualism - Mutualism describes the interactive (symbiotic) relationship between two organisms, when both organism benefit. Examples include honeybees and flowers, sea anemones and clownfish, bacteria and soybeans, and lichen. Explanation : Honeybees and a sunflower are pictured above. Since the sunflower is pollinated by the honeybees and the honeybees get pollen from the flower, t his is an example of mutualism .

                                       Phototropism - Phototropism describes the growth response that an organism has to uneven light exposure. This exposure causes the organism to curve towards or away from the light. Phototropism, an adaptation common in plants and some fungi, is intended to increase energy production through photosynthesis; more sunlight means more photosynthesis. Explanation : A Crepe Myrtle tree is pictured above. Since the larger surrounding trees are blocking the Crepe Myrtle's source of sunlight, the tree is curving up and outwards.

Pistil of a Flower - A flower's pistil is the female reproductive organ that obtains pollen and creates seeds. It's a stick-like appendage, often central to the flower, that's surrounded by the stamen. It contains the stigma, style (a small stalk), and ovary. Explanation : A flower's pistil is pictured above. Although the ovary is not visible, the white stick-like figure is the style and the uppermost white blub on the style is the stigma.  

                                  Pollinator - A pollinator is any organism that fertilizes a plant through the delivery of pollen. This mutualistic relationship helps plants produce seeds and provides the pollinator with pollen or nectar. Without pollinators, plants would be unable to reproduce. Many insects, mammals, and birds are all examples of pollinators. Explanation : This swallowtail butterfly is an example of a pollinator. Upon landing on the bush, this insect will transport pollen to the bush's flowers.

                                         Spore - A spore is a small reproductive component that certain plants, bacteria, and fungi produce for sexual and asexual reproduction. They are highly resistant to poor environmental conditions. Mushrooms and ferns both reproduce using spores. Explanation : A mushroom is pictured above. As a fungus, this mushroom reproduces using spores. Its open cap signifies that spores have been released.

                                          Stamen - A flower's stamen is the male reproductive organ that's responsible for producing and holding pollen. It consists of both the anther and the filament and appears as small, lobed stalks in the center of a flower. The anther is the lobed region that produces pollen, and the filament supports the anther. Explanation : A rose's stamen is pictured above. The slender shoots are the rose's filament, and the ribbed bulbs are anthers.