Succession

Succession is a term used to describe how a community evolves over time. There are two types of succession, primary and secondary. The photo above is of primary succession. It starts out as rocks then evolves into small plants to grasses to pines and eventually larger and larger trees. There wasn't a fire or a different disaster so it is not secondary succession. Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes are secondary. Primary is where no life turns into a increasing amount of life. It is like a sequence of events over a period of hundreds of years, like the after effects of a volcano erupting.

Genetically Modified Organism

The photo above is of two tomatoes, which have been genetically modified to last longer. An advantage is that the food does not rot and it makes the lives of farmers a lot easier. A disadvantage is that they used to have antibiotic resistance, the essence of the tomato gets changed. Corn and soy products are other examples of these organisms.

Lichen

Lichen is a type of fungus and algae that is typically found on trees. The green blobs on the tree in the photo above are lichen. Lichen tends to grow in places where plant cannot grow, like on the tree bark in the above photo. Types of lichen include fruticose, foliose, and crustose lichen.

Sporophyte

The photo above is of a pine tree, a type of conifer. Since pine trees release pine cones, spores, the tree is considered to be a sporophyte. This happens through meiosis. Other examples include club mosses and ferns.

Endosperm

Endosperm is a type of tissue that surrounds the seed in plants. The photo above is of corn. What humans know of as corn is an example of endosperm, there are tiny seeds within each corn kernel. This endosperm provides nutrients like starch, oil, and protein to the seed, it acts like an embryo. This is an example of edible endosperm! Wheat and barley have endosperm that made common products like bread and beer. It is very useful.

Glycogen

This kind of scary looking tortoise and rabbit are eating grass that will soon become glycogen. Glycogen is a polysaccharide (carbohydrate) that is stored in the liver and muscles of animals. When the time arrives, this glycogen will get converted to glucose. Glucose can also be found in protein filled animal products.

ATP

ATP is the "energy currency" of cells. Basically, ATP is an energy source for important functions inside the cell. For example, in the post below, ATP was vital for the calvin cycle. The photo above is of a flower, a flower that is going through the calvin cycle and therefore using ATP. ATP is used as an energy source. ATP is used in both animals and plants.

Calvin Cycle

The calvin cycle is when carbon dioxide is added to "RuBP" to form a two 3 carbon molecule called 3-phosphoglycerate. By using ATP and NADPH (now ADP and NADP+), 3phosphoglycerate forms into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (glucose). To make the story short, the calvin cycle is one part of the photosynthesis cycle. The photo above is a picture of a plant that is in the sunlight. By using the sunlight stimulation and the carbon dioxide around, the plant is continually going through the calvin cycle. Any plant is an example of the product of the Calvin Cycle.

Phloem

Phloem is a part of the plant that transports sugar (sap) to all parts of the tree. The photo above shows a part of a plant, the bark. Beneath the bark is phloem (next is the cambium and xylem). Examples of phleom are everywhere in a rainforest or a jungle.

Lipid Uses for Energy Storage

Lipids are organic molecules that are insoluble in water and consist of what we know as "fat". The photo above is olive oil, a key example of a lipid. Since lipids are not soluble in water, this is why olive oil dressing has separations within the liquid. Cream, grease, animal oil are all lipids.

Mollusks

Mollusks are a phylum that contain a wide variety of organisms. The photo above is of snails, a gastropod. Gastropods are the most diverse section within the phylum of mollusks. Snails are invertebrate and have shells, a typical characteristic of mollusks. Clams and oysters are also mollusks.

Thorn of a Plant

In the photo above, the sharp purple section of the plant is the thorn of the plant. This thorn protects the plant from herbivores. Thorns are modified stems of this plant, as shown above.

Cambium

In woody plants, vascular cambium is between the xylem and the phloem. There is also another region, cork cambium. This is between the cork and the phloem. This picture is a tree that was opened in my attempt to expose the cambium. Cambium is tricky to see since it is squished between other layers. In the picture, on the low center of the picture, the cambium is in that area. Cambium is living, it has nutrients and helps the growth of the plant (it produces xylem and phloem).

Auxin Producing Area of a Plant

Auxin is a plant hormone in the stem tip. This plant hormone causes the plant to form leaves, it causes the plant to exhibit photo tropism, and it causes it to form other important functions. The photo above shows the tip of the stem, where auxin is produced. The leaves formed and the movement of the plant would be different if auxin was not present. Auxin is at the stem tip so it can be found at the top or on the different sides of a plant, it does not have to be limited to one area. All leafy plants have this hormone.

Protein (fibrous or globular)

The photo above is of hair, an example of Keratin. Keratin is a type of fibrous protein, a protein that repeats and repeats. Fibrous proteins have "only primary and secondary structures" that with the insolubility and elongation make up this type of protein. Hair, nails, hooves are all examples of Keratin.

Long-day Plant

A long-day plant is a plant the does not need a lot of hours of darkness. These plants tend to thrive in the summer (when the days are long). The photo above is of lettuce, an example of a long-day plant. This lettuce head was once sitting on the fields of California, enjoying the hot California sun. Wheat, barley, turnip, and carnations are all long day.

Vestigial Structures

Vestigial structures are structures that do not serve a purpose, yet are still there. The photo above is of my ear, an ear with muscles that are vestigial. Monkeys have muscles in their ears that help them listen for predators. In humans, these muscles have no function for some reason. Therefore, they are vestigial. The human tailbone is another example, along with the appendix.

Unicellular Organism

Unicellular organisms have one cell (as the name hints at). The photo above shows a picture of bread, bread that contains yeast. Yeast is an example of a unicellular organism since it is a eukaryote ( a division of unicellular organisms). Bacteria and viruses are also unicellular.

Population

A population is where specific organisms gather and live. The photo above are giraffes that make up the giraffe population in the Oakland Zoo. All of the giraffes are in a certain area, they live together in harmony. Population is everywhere, the school has its own population of over two thousand students.

Protostomes

Protosomes are organisms that have their mouth formed before the anus. Within this group are arthropods, of which include spiders. This terrifyingly spooky spider is a protosome, an organism that has a "mouth first". Nematodes and mollusks can also fit into this category.

K-Strategist

K-strategists are organisms that have a small population, they are more concerned with living a long life. These organisms mature more slowly and reproducing later than R-strategists. Tigers and bears are an example of a K-strategist because tigers and bears do not have a lot of young, and they tend to live long lives. Humans are K strategists!

Analogous Structures

Analogous structures are structures that are similar in function, but that are not from a common ancestor. The photos above are of a fly and flamingos. A fly has a wing that is very similar to the wings of a bird (a flamingo, for example). The catch is that these two organisms are not from a common ancestor. Shark and dolphin fins are other examples.

Homologous Structures

Homologous structures are structures that serve different functions but come from the same ancestor. The photos above are the arms of an alligator and the wings of a bat. These are examples of homologous structures since the alligator arm and bat wings have similar humerus, radius, ulna, and carpals in each forelimb. This supports the fact that they come from a common ancestor. Now, an alligator's arm is to swim, not to fly (unlike the bat). Therefore, these two animals have homologous structures. Human arms, bat arms, and dolphin arms are also all homologous.

Niche

A niche is a habitat where the organism thrives (it has everything it needs). The photo above is a bird that has the nests for its young, food, and shelter - this is the bird's niche. The tortoise has all the grass and rocks it needs. The Oakland Zoo tries to mimic the niche of each organism so the organisms survive and feel at home.

Pine cone - female

Female pine cones are the common pine cones found on the ground, as shown through the photo above. What is interesting is that male pine cones look more like plants. Female pine cones are rigid, long lasting, and they contain the egg.

Pollinator

A pollinator is simply an organism that pollinates plants. The photo is of a bee, a common pollinator. Bees take the pollen from one plant and transports them to another plant to pollinate that plant. Without the bees, the plants would not be able to survive (reproduce). Pollinators can also be hummingbirds.

Heterotroph

A heterotroph is an organism that uses "organic carbon" for growth. Basically, it eats other things to make its own food. Unlike autotrophs that make their own food, heterotrophs rely on outside factors. The photo is a picture of a resting chimpanzee and an active squirrel monkey. This chimpanzee and monkey are heterotrophs since they are omnivores.

Commensalism

Commensalism is when one organism benefits while the other organism doesn't really care. The photo above is a bird sitting on a hog. The bird benefits since it blends in with the hog and it also is getting a rest. The hog, on the other hand, continues with its feast. Clown fish and sea anemone are another example sine the anemone gives the fish protection.

Endotherm

Endotherms are warm-blooded animals, they generate heat instead of relying on heat sources. The photo above is a very jolly elephant, which happens to be a warm-blooded animal. Therefore, this elephant is an endotherm. Humans, tigers, lions, and all different types of animals are endotherms.

Detritovore

A detritovore feeds on the dead - dead and decomposing matter. The photo above is a picture of worms (larvae) that feed on decomposing matter (such as dead tissue). These are vital in the food chain. Snails, crabs, and worms are all detritovores.

Exoskeleton

The exoskeleton is the hard lining in arthropods. In the photo above, all of the arthropods (except the butterflies) have an exoskeleton. Specifically, this is what makes the look of arthropods even more creepy. Although, some different animals may have exoskeletons - shells.

Altruistic Behavior

Altruism is when an organism acts in a way of putting another organism before itself. Altruism in modern day includes giving money to charity, it is un-selfish behavior. In the animal kingdom, altruism can be monkeys grooming each other. The photo above shows two baboons, one grooming the other. Dolphins are also altruistic, taking care of any injured and sick animals.

Adaptation of an Animal

Adaptation is when an animal has succesful traits in relation to the environment to survive. The photo above is a camel, an example of adaptation. Camels have thick fur which protects them from cold nights and acts as an insulation towards the sun. The humps of the camel store fat, so it can go long distances without food and water. The long eyelashes, strong legs, and leathery patches protects the camel from the dangers of the desert. This adaptation makes the camel one of the few organisms that can survive in the desert. The fur color of polar bears and deers are also adaptations to blend in.

Autotroph

Autotrophs are organisms that go through photosynthesis and/or chemosynthesis to produce organic compounds necessary for survival (proteins, carbohydrates). They are typically producers in the food chain, and they can make their own food. I put a picture of a plant because plants are autotrophs. This plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make its food. Algae and moss are autotrophs as well.

Basidiomycete

Basidiomycete is part of the Kingdom Fungi and includes mushrooms, puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, smuts, and more. This group produces spores. This picture is of mushrooms, which is a division in basidiomycetes.

Tendril

A tendril is a part of a plant that helps support the plant. This curly segment can attach and it can photosynthesize. All in all, a tendril can be considered to be part of a stem or part of a leaf. In the photo, the curly green vine is a tendril.

Tropism

Tropism is the growth towards or away from a stimulus/environmental factor. The photo above is a picture of one of our trees. Since the wind always comes from that area, the tree has grown slanted, away from the direction of the wind. This is tropism since the tree grew away from an environmental factor. Geotropism is an example of tropism in relation to gravity. There are a lot of different types of tropism, like hydrotropism (water).

Taxis

Taxis is when an organism moves in a specific direction due to environment. This is very similar to tropism. The difference is that taxis is more intentional, it is more directed (it also includes all types of organisms). The photo above is a picture of a plant that is moving away from the sunlight. The plant specifically moved away from the sun, there is probably too much sun in that spot.

Stigma and Style of Carpel

The stigma is the end of the carpel. This is the female reproductive part since the carpel contains the ovary. The stigma is where pollen is collected and sent down to the ovary. The photo shows the whole flower. The stigma is the yellow part in the middle.

Stem: Woody and Herbaceous

Woody and herbaceous stems are what set apart monocots and dicots. Monocots typically have herbaceous stems, stems that are soft and bendable (and green). Dicots typically have woody stems, stems that are hard and brittle (and brown). The daisy in the photo has a herbaceous stem while the other plant has a woody stem. Ferns have herbaceous and roses tend to have woody stems.

Rhizome

Rhizome is a fancy word for root. Rhizomes are the roots from plants, or they may be the stems for some plants. Rhizomes help survival, for they go deep underground, and they help asexual reproduction. The photo above are some weeds that I pulled out from the backyard. The rhizome is the brown mess below the green of the plant. Ginger is a type of rhizome.

Radial Symmetry

Radial symmetry is a type of symmetry that radiates from the center. It is as if circles get bigger and bigger as they escape from the center. The photo above is a flower; flowers are usually radial (if not they may be bilateral and radial). This symmetry is what makes the flower look visually appealing. The sun has radial symmetry, as does a starfish :)

R-Strategist

R-strategists are organisms that grow exponentially only to keep the population growing. These type of organisms do not have as long as a life span as K-strategists. Their environment is very unstable and their characteristics are sped up rapidly. It is as if these organisms want to super size everything. So, I put a picture of ants. Insects are typically R-strategists. For instance, all of the ants in the photo are probably .001% of the whole ant population in Brentwood. That's a lot of ants. Mice and mosquitos are r-strategists.