BSC 2250C – Fall 2012 Study Guide for Exam 1
Exam on Saturday, October 20
Hypothesis
1. Educated guess as to what is causing an observation
Compound leaf
1. A whole leaf is determined at the bud and contain many “leaflets”, such as the
elderberry; as opposed to the strangler fig.
Eurythermal
1. An organism able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures
Pneumatophores
1. an air-filled root (submerged or exposed) that can function as a respiratory organ of a
marsh or swamp plant
Taxonomy
1. a classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure or origin etc
Carrying capacity
1. the population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given
the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment.
Endothermic (mammals)
1. Dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat (ecto=cold-blooded)
Isotonic
1. Concentration of dissolved substances equal between cells and surrounding
environment (net movement of water in)Healthy… no change in water movement or
cell shape)
Uniform and clumped distribution
1. Uniform – very rare. Distant, equal space between all individuals, indicates
competition
2. Clumped – MOST COMMON. Small, patchy aggregations, usually around areas of ideal
habitat
Hybrid inviability
1. Offspring are infertile or otherwise deformed or unable to reproduce (mule)
Epiphyte
1. A plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns,
bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests
Sympatric speciation
1. Species which are isolated from each other even thought they occupy the same area
(not sympatric/compatible)
Dichotomous key
1. A series of A or B choices based on various characteristics ultimately narrowing down
to a certain species
Lichen
