Marine Biology

A. Metabolism - The process by which a living organism takes energy from its surroundings and uses it to sustain itself, develop and grow

B. Photosynthesis - The process by which an organism uses the energy from the sun to produce its own food

C. Autotrophs - Organisms that are able to produce their own food

D. Heterotrophs - Organisms that cannot make their own food and must obtain it from other organisms

E. Respiration - The process by which food is converted into useable energy for life functions

F. Homeostasis - The tendency of living organisms to control or regulate changes in their internal environment

G. Diffusion - The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

H. Osmosis - The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane

I. Osmoconformer - An organism that allows its internal concentration of salts to change in order to match the external concentration of salts in the surrounding water

J. Osmoregulator - An organism that allows its internal concentration of salts

K. Poikilotherm - An organism whose body temperature changes with its surrounding environment

L. Ectotherm - An organism whose body is controlled by its surrounding environment

M. Homeotherm - An animal that maintains a controlled internal body temperature using its own heating and cooling mechanisms

N. Endotherm - An animal whose internal body temperature is a result of internal sources of heat

O. Asexual reproduction - Reproduction accomplished by a single organism

P. Sexual reproduction - Reproduction that involves the union of gametes from two organisms: a male and female

Q. Binomial nomenclature - Identifying an organism by its genus and species