Chapter 13 Vocabulary
Tolerance range
Environment
Abiotic
Biotic
Limiting factor
Distribution
Adaptation
pH
Hydrophyte
Pneumatophores
Torpor
Hibernation
Xerophytes
Cuticle
Halophyte
Humus
Mycorrhiza
Epicormic buds
Lignotuber
Chapter 14 Vocabulary
Relating to the physical parts of the environment, as opposed to
the biologicial (biotic) parts.
Geographic extent; may refer, for example, to family, genus,
species or particular population of a species.
A plant well adapted to growing in water
Condition where a vertebrate animal allows its body temperature
to drop, and becomes inactive or dormant for a period of time.
A plant that is adapted to arid conditions.
Symbiotic relationship between a soil fungus and a plant (a host).
The fungal hyphae are closely associated with the host plant’s
roots. Both partners benefit from the association (mutualism).
The range of environmental conditions that the organism can
tolerate.
(1) Structure or function of an organism that makes it well
suited to its lifestyle and to the environment in which it
lives.
(2) The process by which a species becomes well suited to its
lifestyle and environment.
Relating to the biological parts of the environment, as opposed to
the abiotic (physical) parts.
In animals, a state reduced metabolism and controlled lowering of
body temperature, such as occurs in many cold-climate species in
winter. Hibernation reduces the amount of energy required at a
time when little food is available.
Plant that is adapted to salty conditions (saline environment) and
which has specialised mechanisms for handling excess salt.
Non-living and living surroundings of an organism.
Bud that lies under the bark of stem or root of a plant, that are able
to sprout and grow after damage to the plant, eg after fire
A swelling at the base of a stem that is a source of dormant buds; in
most eucalypts, aids regeneration after fire.
A layer of non-cellular material on the outer surface of a plant or
animal, impermeable to water, eg waxy cuticle in plants, chitinprotein layer in arthropods.
Acidity or alkalinity. Measured by a scale from about 0 (most
acidic) to about 14 (most alkaline). Neutral pH is 7. One unit on
the logarithmic pH scale means a tenfold difference in acidity or
alkalinity.
Organic matter formed from the breakdown of dead plants and
animals; makes a dark layer in topsoil.
A condition that limits a process, or the abundance and distribution
of an organism; for example shortage of light is an environmental
factor that limits photosynthesis and plant growth
Aerial root in mangroves that increases the surface area exposed to
the air at low tide for oxygen uptake.
Hormone
Tropism
Phototropism
Coleoptile
Auxin
Meristem
Geotropism
Apical tip
Apical dominance
Gibberellins
Cytokinin
Dormancy
Abscisic acid
Ethylene
Carotene
Photoperiod
Thigmatropism
Circadian
rhythms
Vernalisation
Plant hormone that is released from the growing tip and
stimulates growth. Synthetic auxins are used as herbicides.
Natural cycle of about 24 hours observed in animals or
plants (eg sleep, opening and closing petals)
A phenomenon where auxin is produced in the apical tip,
and as it moves down the stem, inhibits the development of
lateral buds.
A plant response in which the direction of the response is
related to the direction from which the stimulus comes.
May be positive or negative.
In plants, a state of reduced metabolism, such as occurs in
seeds and deciduous plants during winter.
An organic gas which is released by fruits to assist in
ripening.
The day-night cycle, to which many organism respond.
Change in direction of plant growth in response to gravity.
Substance produced by a particular group of cells and
transported throughout an organism to sites where it affects
the function of the cells that are capable of responding.
Stimulation of a plant or plant part (eg bud or seed) to grow
by exposure to cold, such as a period of winter.
The tip of a growing grass shoot.
Plant hormones that stimulate cell division, cell enlargement
and tissue differentiation.
Change in direction of plant growth in response to contact
with a surface.
The pigment in plants that gives plants an orange-yellow
colour.
Areas of rapidly dividing cells in root and shoot tips.
A growth-inhibiting plant hormone that controls a plant’s
response to stress, eg leaf fall (abscission) and dormancy.
Change in the direction of plant growth in response to light.
A class of plant hormones that promote stem elongation and
germination
The growing tip of a plant.