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Science TAKS Vocabulary
Science TAKS Vocabulary
81
Science
8th Grade
03/15/2011

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Term
LIMITING FACTOR
Definition
a factor that controls a process, such as organism growth or species population, size, or distribution
Term
GLACIER
Definition
a large persistent body of ice originating on land that flows slowly due to stresses induced by its weight
Term
PHOTOTROPISM
Definition
directional growth in which the direction of growth is determined by the direction of the light source
Term
URCHINS
Definition
spiny sea creatures that are round and prickly like hedgehogs
Term
NATURAL DISASTER
Definition
the effect of a natural hazard (e.g., flood, tornado, hurricane, volcanic eruption, earthquake, or landslide). It leads to financial, environmental or human losses
Term
PREDATOR
Definition
A carnivore that hunts and kills other animals for food and has adaptations that help it capture the animals it preys upon
Term
TRAITS
Definition
A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes
Term
INTERDEPENDENCE
Definition
a dynamic of being mutually and physically responsible to, and sharing a common set of principles with, others
Term
PHENOMENON
Definition
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something that is impressive or extraordinary
Term
OZONE
Definition
A form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two found in the upper atmosphere
Term
GLOBAL WARMING
Definition
A gradual increase in the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.
Term
POLLUTION
Definition
a group of individuals of one species that live in a particular area
Term
POPULATION
Definition
a group of individuals of one species that live in a particular area
Term
ESTUARY
Definition
a point at which a river meets the sea and there is a mixing of saline and freshwater
Term
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Definition
a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.
Term
FOOD CHAIN
Definition
a sequence of organisms where each organisms feeds on the previous to obtain energy
Term
ORAGANELLE
Definition
a specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function
Term
MUTUALISM
Definition
a symbiotic relationship in which both participants benefit
Term
PARASITISM
Definition
a symbiotic relationship in which the symbiont benefits at the expense of the host by either living within or on the host
Term
COMMENSALISM
Definition
a symbiotic relationship in which the symbiont benefits but the host is neither helped nor harmed
Term
INCLINATION
Definition
a tendency toward a certain condition, action, etc
Term
GRAZE
Definition
a type of predation in which a herbivore feeds on plants
Term
BIOTIC
Definition
all the living components of an environment
Term
ECOSYSTEM
Definition
all the organisms in a given are as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact
Term
COMMUNITY
Definition
all the organisms or groups of different species that inhabit a particular area
Term
PREY
Definition
An animal that a predator feeds upon.
Term
CARNIVORE
Definition
an animal that eats other animals
Term
HERBIVORE
Definition
an animal that eats plants
Term
PRODUCER
Definition
an autotroph, which collectively make up the trophic level of an ecosystem that ultimately supports all other levels; usually photosynthetic
Term
SYMBIOSIS
Definition
an ecological relationship between organisms of two different species that live together in direct contact
Term
WATERSHED
Definition
an extent or area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean
Term
PREDATION
Definition
An interaction in which one organism hunts and kills another animal for food
Term
MICROORGANISM
Definition
an organism that is unicellular or lives in a colony of cellular organisms
Term
PARASITE
Definition
An organism that lives on or in a host and causes harm to the host
Term
HOST
Definition
An organism that provides a source of energy or a suitable environment for a virus or for another organism to live
Term
NICHE
Definition
An organism’s particular role in an ecosystem, or how it lives
Term
DECOMPOSER
Definition
any of the saprotrophic fungi and bacteria that absorb nutrients from nonliving organic matter
Term
TROPHIC LEVEL
Definition
any of the several levels of a food chain, whose species are based o them main nutritional source
Term
RESOURCES
Definition
any physical or virtual entity of limited availability that needs to be consumed to obtain a benefit from it
Term
FRESHWATER
Definition
aquatic environments such as streams, rivers, and lakes which typically from from precipitation
Term
INNATE
Definition
born with, not learned
Term
CHROMOSOME
Definition
coiled structure found the nucleas of organisms that contain DNA
Term
LARYNX
Definition
commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of mammals (including humans) involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration
Term
QUALITATIVE
Definition
descriptions or distinctions based on some quality or characteristic rather than on some quantity or measured value
Term
NONRENEWABLE
Definition
energy source that can run out
Term
RENEWABLE
Definition
energy sources that can be replenished in a resonable time period
Term
APPARATUS
Definition
equipment or device
Term
FOSSIL FUEL
Definition
fuels formed from the remain of dead plants and animals burined beneath the surfac for long periods of time
Term
AQUATIC
Definition
having to do with water
Term
CONSTITUTE
Definition
is made of or consists of
Term
GLUCOSE
Definition
molecule formed by plants during photosynthesis
Term
ABIOTIC
Definition
non living factors such as air, water, and soil
Term
MARINE
Definition
ocean environment
Term
10% RULE
Definition
only 10% of the available energy at one trophic level is available to be transferred up the energy pyramid
Term
COMPETITOR
Definition
organism that competes with other organisms for biotic or abiotic factors
Term
CONSUMER
Definition
organism that consumes others to obtain their energy
Term
ADAPTATION
Definition
organisms ability to change overtime to be better suited for it's environment
Term
HAZARDOUS
Definition
potentially dangerous
Term
MITOSIS
Definition
process of cellular division
Term
TRANSPIRATION
Definition
process similar to evaporation. It is a part of the water cycle, and it is the loss of water vapor from parts of plants (similar to sweating), especially in leaves but also in stems, flowers and roots.
Term
QUANTITATIVE
Definition
refers to a type of information based in quantities or else quantifiable data
Term
TERRESTRIAL
Definition
refers to things related to land or the planet Earth
Term
DESCRIBE
Definition
represent in words
Term
RESPIRATION
Definition
the act of respiring; inhalation and exhalation of air; breathing; the sum total of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which oxygen is conveyed to tissues and cells, and the oxidation products, carbon dioxide and water, are given off
Term
DIFFRACTION
Definition
the apparent bending of waves around small obstacles and the spreading out of waves past small openings
Term
INTERTIDAL
Definition
the area that is exposed to the air at low tide and underwater at high tide
Term
CLIMATE
Definition
The average conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area over time
Term
REFRACTION
Definition
The bending of waves as they enter a different medium
Term
EXTINCTION
Definition
the complete removal of a speices from existance
Term
BIODIVERSITY
Definition
the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet
Term
FOOD WEB
Definition
the elaborate, interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Term
RUN OFF
Definition
the flow of water, from rain, snowmelt, or other resource, over land
Term
SUCCESSION
Definition
the orderly process of community change, the sequence of communities which replace one another in a given area
Term
HABITAT
Definition
the part of an environment occupied by an animal or plant
Term
INCUBATION
Definition
to develop or cause to develop gradually
Term
PERCOLATE
Definition
to pass through a porous substance; filter; ooze; seep; trickle
Term
BIOMASS
Definition
total mass of organsims in a given environment
Term
AQUIFER
Definition
underground layer of earth that holds water
Term
SURFACE WATER
Definition
water located on the Earth's surface such as streams, rivers, lakes and oceans
Term
GROUNDWATER
Definition
Water that fills the cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers
Term
INEXHAUSTIBLE
Definition
will not run out
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