Ecology

Ecology

Industry: Biology

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Ecology

Latitudinal diversity gradient

Biology; Ecology

Around the world, the diversity of species tends to increases as latitude decreases. In other words, life gets richer toward the equator and less so nearer the poles.

Ria coast

Biology; Ecology

An elaborately sculpted coast with prominent capes or headlands and deep bays or inlets. Formed by either the submergence of a continental landmass or a sea level rise.

Nucleus

Biology; Ecology

In a cell, the organelle that contains genetic material (DNA and chromosomes); the cell's control center. Also: the centre of an atom around which the electrons orbit.

Breaker

Biology; Ecology

A wave that collapses forward near the shoreline as the shoaling sea bottom makes it top-heavy. It collapses when the ratio of its height to its wavelength passes 1:7.

Prairie pothole

Biology; Ecology

Wetland marshes or depressions left by glaciers. Prairie postholes scattered across the Upper Midwest of North America host 50% of the continent's migrating waterfowl.

Absorption

Biology; Ecology

The passage of water and nutrients through cell membranes instead of by direct ingestion. Also refers to how objects convert the solar radiation they receive into heat.

Pistil

Biology; Ecology

The female reproductive organ of a flower. Carpels (ovule-bearing leaves) compose it, and stamens, petals and sepals ring it. A flower without stamens is a pistillate.