long-day plant

The clovers are an example of a long-day plant. A long-day plant is a plant that flowers only after being exposed to light in periods longer than a certain critical length, like in summer. 

Redox Reaction

Redox reactions are reactions in which there's a simultaneous transfer of electrons from one chemical species to another. It is really composed of two different reactions: oxidation (a loss of electrons) and reduction (a gain of electrons). These two things have to happen together in order for a redox reaction to occur. One common example of a redox reaction is rust, as shown on this iron crate near the high school. Rust is the flaky brown substance that forms on iron objects left exposed to the elements too long, especially if the object gets wet. The iron actually turns into rust, which is actually a form of oxidized iron. The chemical reaction of rusting is iron + water + air = rust. When iron is in the presence of moisture, it will lose electrons, becoming a positively charged ion in water (oxidation reaction). Those electrons are then used to reduce the oxygen dissolved in the water (reduction reaction). Those ions react with ions in the water to produce iron hydroxide which will dry in several steps to produce rust.

Detritovore

A detritovore is an organism that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, returning essential nutrients to the ecosystem. This worm I found in my garden is an example of a detritovore. They live in soil and decompose organic matter to survive.

introduced species

A species that does not occur naturally in a given area is an introduced species. These are non-native species that were somehow introduced to this new area. This tree in my backyard (we think it's an Austrian blue spruce) is an introduced species. It is not native to Montana.

Glycogen

Glycogen is a substance deposited in body tissues. It's the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals, and is converted to glucose as needed. Glycogen is found in human muscles, like the ones demonstrated by my sister. 

Predation

Predation is the capturing of prey as a means of maintaining life. A spider (the predator) living in this spiderweb captures flies and other insects (the prey) in its web and then consumes them in order to survive.

homologous structures

Homologous structures are body parts that are alike because the species share a common ancestor.  Unlike analogous structures, meaning that it preforms the same function, homologous structures don't necessarily preform the same function; they just share a common ancestral origin. As an example, I have a bird's wing, which is homologous to the human arm. They have the same basic skeletal structure, and are derived from the same origin, but they are used differently.

gibberellins

Gibberellins are plant hormones that regulate growth and influence various stages of the developmental process. Gibberellins are found in all plants as they are growing, like the plant pictured above.

Cellular respiration

Cellular respiration is the metabolic process where certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules. It takes place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported into the lungs. Plants like these flowers on my porch go through the process of cellular respiration.

ATP

ATP is a nucleotide that occurs at the mitochondria and the chloroplasts of plants. It is used as a source for cellular reactions. This plant in my yard contains ATP in its cells.

Mating Behavior

Mating behavior is the behavioral interactions between organisms for the purpose of mating. Male peacocks spread their colorful tail feathers, like this one I found at a peacock farm, to attract female peacocks.

meristem

Meristem is the region of cells capable of division and growth in plants . It's usually at the tip of the stem or root of a plant. This plant in my backyard has meristem plant tissue in it.

Stigma & style of carpel

The carpel is an organ at the center of the flower  that holds ovules in an ovary. It consists of a stigma, which is at the tip of the carpel, and is receptive to pollen. It also has a style, which connects the stigma to the ovary. My thumb is pointing to the carpel of this flower. 

r-strategist

R-strategists are organisms that live in unstable environments and reproduce rapidly in order to survive. They are part of the R-selection reproduction group. Because of low diversity and the lack of resources where these organisms live, their population size diminishes rapidly. Weeds like these under my porch are examples of an r-strategist.

Fermentation

Fermentation is an aerobic cellular process in which organic foods are converted into simpler compounds, and chemical energy is produced. The raspberry pictured on the right is rotting, and therefore is going through the process of fermentation.

exoskeleton

An exoskeleton is a hard structure found on the external part of an organism such as a vertebrae. The role of an exoskeleton is mainly protection against predators and pests. Exoskeletons are usually associated with shells, but they can also be found in arthropods such as lobsters, crabs, turtles, and beetles as shown in the picture.

tropism

Tropism is when a plant bends in a certain direction towards or away from an external stimulus, like light, heat, or gravity. These plants shown are bending out of the shade of the tree towards the light.

niche

A niche is the role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem. The niche of this tree is to absorb sunlight by photosynthesis, absorb water and mineral salts from the soil, and to provide shelter for many plants and animals.

mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from each other is called mutualism. This ladybug helps the plant by getting rid of harmful aphids, and the plant helps the ladybug by "giving" it aphids. Both the ladybug and the plant are helped, and therefore they have a mutualistic relationship.

Krebs cycle

The Krebs cycle is the sequence of reactions taking place in the mitochondria in living cells that generates energy during aerobic respiration. The mitochondria consumes oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water as waste products, and converting ADP to energy-rich ATP. The Krebs cycle happens in all plants, including the one pictured.

cambium

Cambium is a layer of tissue between the inner bark or phloem and the wood or xylem. It produces new phloem on the outside and new xylem on the inside of stems, roots, etc, originating all secondary growth in plants and forming the annual rings of wood. It's sort of hard to see the cambium layer on this dead tree, but it is between the dark ring on the outside and the lighter wood.

batesian mimicry

Batesian mimicry is when a species imitates a similar species, due to that species reputation as a dangerous animal, which may help them deter an offensive organism. This drone fly, or hover fly, imitates a wasp with the yellow and black stripes on its back, so predators like birds, lizards, and frogs will be kept more at bay by thinking that it has a stinger.

heterotroph

This mountain goat found on Mount Aeneas up in the Jewel Basin is an example of a heterotroph. A heterotroph is an organism that can't contain its carbon from carbon dioxide. Instead, heterotrophs obtain carbon by feeding on the organic material in other organisms. This mountain goat is an animal, and all animals are heterotrophs, because they eat other organisms for their survival.

Frond

A frond is a leaf, especially of a fern, cycad or palm. It is a leaf-like portion of a non-vascular plant. This is a picture of a fern, that has fronds. Ferns are flowerless, seedless plants that have roots, stems, and fronds and reproduce by spores.They belong to the botanical group called Pteridophyta. This is a picture of a fern I found on Big Mountain.

A frond is a leaf, especially of a fern, cycad or palm. It is a leaf-like portion of a non-vascular plant. This is a picture of a fern, that has fronds. Ferns are flowerless, seedless plants that have roots, stems, and fronds and reproduce by spores.They belong to the botanical group called Pteridophyta. This is a picture of a fern I found on Big Mountain.

commensalism

Commensalism is an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped. A bird living in this tree in my backyard is an example of commensalism. The bird benefits by having a place to build it's home, and the tree isn't helped or hurt.

bilateral symmetry

Bilateral symmetry is the property of being able to be divisible into two symmetrical halves. Humans have bilateral symmetry, along with butterflies and lizards. The leaf in this picture has bilateral symmetry; it's divided in two by the stem.

Eukaryote

A eukaryote is an organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed with membranes. This algae is a eukaryote and conducts photosynthesis within membrane-bound organelles called chloroplasts.

Seed Dispersal (Animal)

These burs found by my house are an example of animal seed dispersal. Burs have barbs that get tangled in an animals fur, and then are carried to a new location.

Basidiomycete

This mushroom found in the woods by my house is a basidiomycete, meaning it is a member of a large group of fungi bearing sexually produced spores on a basidium. Basidia can not be seen with the naked eye. They cover the gills of the mushroom, and the interior surfaces of the tubes in mushrooms with pores. Each basidia holds two or four spores each.

Flower Ovary

The bulb seen at the bottom of this squash flower growing in my garden is called the ovary. An ovary is part of the female reproductive organ of the flower. This ovary will actually grow into a baby squash. Since the petals and sepals are above the ovary, the squash is said to have an inferior ovary; as opposed to a superior ovary which is located above.

Gymnosperm Leaf

This is a picture of a gymnosperm leaf on a pine tree. Pine trees belong to a group of gymnosperms called conifers. Instead of having chambers for seeds, or flowers or fruits, pine trees have cones to help them reproduce. Conifer leaves are needle or scale-like.

Gymnosperm cone

A gymnosperm cone is the gametophyte of the plant. The male cones are further up the tree and smaller, while female cones are larger and further down the tree. Female cones generate seeds and male cones produce pollen. Since the male cones are further up than the female, when their pollen is released it will fall down and stick to the female cones. Once fertilized, the zygote grows into an embryo that is encased in a seed. The female cone then released the seed. This gymnosperm cone found on a tree in my backyard is a female cone because it is near the bottom of the tree.

Calvin Cycle

The calvin cycle is a metabolic pathway found in the stroma of the chloroplast in which carbon enters in the form of CO2 and leaves in the form of sugar. It is also known as the C3 cycle. The calvin cycle is the second stage of photosynthesis that doesn't require light to occur. This plant goes through the process of photosynthesis, and therefore also goes through the calvin cycle.

Pollen

Pollen is the microspores of seed plants that is shed from anthers. Pollen contains microgametophytes, which produce the male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells as them move from the stamens to the pistil of a flowering plant. When the pollen lands on a pistil, it germinates and produces a pollen tube that transfers the sperm to the ovule. It is shown here as the powdery yellow stuff. 

Cuticle Layer of a Plant

This picture is showing the leaf of a plant. On the outside of a leaf their is a waxy covering called the cuticle layer. The cuticle layer is water impervious and helps prevent water loss, along with other damage from nature or other organisms. It is sort of like the human skin.

Auxin Producing Area of a Plant

All leafy plants have auxin, which is a plant hormone located in the stem tip that forms leaves, and causes plants to exhibit photo tropism.

Autotroph

Most plants on land or water are autotrophs, which are the producers in a food chain who provide the consumers with energy. Autotrophs are self feeding organisms who produce organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) using their surroundings, most commonly by means of light. This process is called photosynthesis. This picture shows a plant that is a common autotroph who uses the process of photosynthesis to convert organic compounds for energy use.

Anther and Filament of Stamen

This picture is showing the anther and filament of a stamen, where pollen is produced and carried until a pollinator comes by and takes some of the pollen to another flower. The stamen is the stem that holds up the anther high so there is a greater chance for it to be pollinated. The anther is the little bulb at the top that holds all the pollen. The pollen is the yellow powdery stuff.

Ectotherm

Ectotherms are dependent on external sources of body heat. This dead monarch butterfly (don't worry, it was found dead) is ectothermic because it depends on the sun's heat to warm it up. They usually try to warm up before they fly, orienting their wings towards the sun.

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is any reproductive process that doesn't involve meiosis or syngamy. Because a asexual organism lacks new genetic material, it clones itself and makes genetically identical organisms. Asexual can be an advantage, or disadvantage. One advantage is that it can create individuals quickly and in large quantities. However, if something goes wrong, like a fatal mutation, the whole society of clones can be destroyed. These raspberries reproduce through asexual reproductions. They are all clones.

Animal With Segmented Body

Segmentation is the subdivision of the body into recurring segments. The ant pictured above has a segmented body. It's body is divided into 3 parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Analagous Structures

My eye is an example of an analagous structure because the human eye is very similar to the eye of an octopus, other than the fact that we have a blind spot and they don't. However, the octopus and human eye are not closely related and are on two different branches of the tree of life. This means that they are analagous structures because the eyes function the same in both species but they evolved independently of another and are not descended from a common ancestor.

Welcome!

Welcome to my AP bio summer assignment blog! I will try to post pictures every week from now on, and will hopefully end up with 50 pictures by the end of the summer. I'll try to have a finger in each picture to authenticate it.

Lichen

This is some lichen growing in my backyard. Lichen is a plantlike organism made up of a fungus and an alga growing on a solid surface (like the tree in the picture).

Endotherm

My dog is endothermic because she, like all other mammals, generates heat to maintain her body temperature.

Amniotic Egg

This chicken egg from Purple Frog Gardens is an example of an amniotic egg. Birds, reptiles, and mammals give birth through amniotic eggs, which contain a yolk to nourish the developing organism.

Adaptation of a plant

This prairie grass is an example of a plant adaptation because it has soft stems that enables it to bend in the wind, and it has deep roots to help it absorb more moisture. It also grows from near the base, and therefore isn't permanently damaged form grazing animals or fire.

Adaptation of an animal

This bumblebee is an example of an animal that has adapted. It's legs have sticky hairs on them to help them collect pollen, and they have pollen baskets (hollow holders on the outside of each back leg) that are shiny when empty, and yellow to red when full.