Xylem

This is a photo of a white clover. A white clover demonstrates xylem. Xylem is vascular plant tissue that acts as transportation for water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. Xylem contains cells called tracheids and vessel members. The xylem is made of a system of tubes and the cells that act as the passage way for water and nutrients. The roots grab the water and nutrients then the xylem transports it up to the top of the vascular plant. The xylem in the white clover is located in its stem. When the white clover's roots extract water and nutrients from the ground, the xylem sends these substances to the top of the white clover where its petals, reproductive parts, and other parts of the flower receive these substances. Without the xylem, flowers and other xylem-containing organisms would not be able to survive because they would lack water and nutrients.




Andrew Rader Studios. “Vascular Systems of Plants.” Biology4Kids.Com: Cell Structure: Cell Walls, Andrew Rader 
        Studios, www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_xylemphloem.html.
Petruzzello, Melissa. “Xylem.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Oct. 2016, 
        www.britannica.com/science/xylem.

Commensalism

This is a photo of human eyelashes that contain mites. The human eyelashes with mites demonstrates commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two species where one obtains benefits from the other while the other species is not harmed or benefited. In commensalism, the benefited species obtains things such as nutrients, shelter, support, or transportation. In the photo, the two species involved in commensalism are a human and microscopic mites. Mites take shelter in human eyelashes and receive nutrients through human glandular secretions in the hair follicles. More specifically, the mite species that take shelter on the hair follicles are demodex folliculorum. In exchange, the human host receives no benefits and is not harmed. Other examples of commensalism are the remora fish benefiting off of sharks, lichens using trees as hosts, and sea anemones on hermit crabs. In all examples, one species is surviving off of the other while the other species is simply the host receiving no benefits or harm.


Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Commensalism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,        
        Inc., 27 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/science/commensalism.
Rush, Aisha. “Demodex Folliculorum.” Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Demodex_folliculorum/.

Hydrophobic

This is a photo of a leaf with water on it. The leaf represents a hydrophobic substance. Hydrophobic describes substances that don't mix with water molecules. The Greek roots hydro-and -phobic combined translates to "water hating". Water molecules are polar molecules and this means they carry a charge along its molecule. The failure of water and hydrophobic molecules to combine results in molecules without a charge. Hydrophobic molecules are the chargeless, non-polar molecules that results in substances not combining with water. The leaf in the photo contains wax. Wax is a non-polar, hydrophobic substance. The water on the leaf is not absorbed because of this wax. Other examples of hydrophobic substances are fats and oils.

Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-hydrophobic-definition-interactions-quiz.html.

Population

This is a photo of a colony of ants. This colony of ants represents a population. A population is a group of organisms of a species that live together at the same time and interbreed. Population is affected by many factors. These factors include food availability, environmental factors, and disease. Fertility is also an impactful factor on a population. If a species cannot reproduce then it will eventually become extinct.  Populations are subject to increases and decreases by births/emigration and deaths/immigration. A species population ratio of births and deaths concludes if a species will become extinct or thrive. The colony in the photo shows a thriving population of ants. These ants live together and work to feed their colony.


Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/population-biology-definition-example.html.
Teitelbaum, Michael S. “Population.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Mar. 2018, 
       www.britannica.com/science/population-biology-and-anthropology.

Adaptation of an Animal

This is a photo of a caterpillar. A caterpillar is an example of an adaption of an animal. An adaptation of an animal helps an organism survive in its environment. It is passed down through generations to help a species survive. There are structural and behavioral adaptations. A structural adaptation is a physical trait and a behavioral adaptation affects the way an organism acts. An example of a structural adaption is camouflage in moths. An example of a behavioral adaption is when birds migrate to warmer climates before winter approaches. Both types of adaptations help a species survive in its environment. The caterpillar in the photo demonstrates a structural adaption with the fur on its body. When birds or other predators of caterpillars try to eat it, the fur on its body makes it distasteful to the predator. Another structural adaption on the caterpillar is its color. The color can tell predators it is poisonous or a caterpillar's color can help it blend into its environment.


“Caterpillar Survival Strategies.” Wildlife Insight, www.wildlifeinsight.com/guide-to-british-caterpillars/caterpillar-
        survival-strategies/.
National Geographic Society. “Adaptation.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, 
        www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/adaptation/.

Epithelial Tissue

This is a photo of a human hand. A human hand contains epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue is tissue all over the human body that forms the external skin. It also forms the inner lining of the mouth, digestive tract, secretory glands, lining of every organ including brain, and also central canals of the spinal cord. The cells that make up the epithelial tissue are connected to each other with specialized structures called tight junctions. Epithelial cells are free from nerves and blood vessels. This tissue is very important as it acts as protection against abrasion, radiation, chemical stress, and invasion of pathogens. Epithelial tissue also acts as barrier between two structures. This allows organs to be close together but at the same time focus on their own function. There are different types of epithelial tissue. Simple epithelium are made of single cell layers and can be found in the alveoli of the lungs. Stratified epithelium contains multiple layers of cells and are known as protective tissue; this type of tissue is found on the external layer of skin. The human hand contains stratified epithelial tissue as it is found externally and acts as a protectant against harmful encounters.

Editors. “Epithelial Tissue - Definition, Types, Function & Examples of Epithelium.” Biology Dictionary, Biology 
        Dictionary, 28 Apr. 2017, biologydictionary.net/epithelial-tissue/.
  

Detritivore

This is a photo of a worm. A worm is an example of a detritivore. A detritivore is an organism that gets its nutrients from detritus. Detritus is organic dead plant and animal matter. Some detritivores also receive nutrients from consuming feces, this is called coprophagy. Detritivores are important because they cycle nutrients. They play an important role in the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and some biogeochemical cycles. Trophic levels are a food chain of an ecosystem. Detritivores are present in all trophic levels because they feed on material from primary producers and also herbivores and carnivores. The worm in the photo is one of many detritivores. Worms are one of the most important types of detritivores because they take in a large amount of organic matter and soil. Once the worm digests the material, it releases a 'cast' from its rear end. This cast is a much more processed version of the original material. The cast is then consumed by other organisms. Other examples of detritivores are mites, beetles, butterflies, flies, slugs, snails, millipedes, and woodlice.

Editors. “Detritivore - Definition, Function and Examples.” Biology Dictionary, Biology Dictionary, 28 Apr. 2017, 
        biologydictionary.net/detritivore/.