Heterotroph

This is a photo of myself, and I am an example of a heterotroph. A heterotroph is an organism that cannot create its own energy, and therefore needs organic compounds (carbon) to grow and create energy. As of yet, I am not able to undergo photosynthesis therefore I am still a heterotroph.

Radial Symmetry

This is a photo of a starfish, which is one of the best examples of radial symmetry that can be found in nature. Radial Symmetry, as opposed to bilateral symmetry and asymmetry, is a basic body layout in which the organism at hand can be simply divided any which way along a central axis. The radial symmetry is easily observed on the underside of this starfish.

Basidiomycete

This is a picture of mushrooms, and they are an example of a basidiomycete. The phylum of Basidiomycota, consists of fungi made up of filaments known as hyphae. Despite being produced for human consumption, these mushrooms still exemplify one member of the phylum of Basidiomycota that also includes other various types of fungi.

Long Day Plant

This is a photo of lettuce, which is an example of a long day plant. Long day plants are plants that only flower/grow after being exposed to a certain duration of sunlight. This time often varies from plant to plant. Some examples of long day plants include radishes, irises, and of course lettuce. Lettuce is the perfect example of a long day plant because it takes a long time underneath sunlight to grow.

Cuticle Layer of a Plant

 Due to transpiration, plants will lose large amounts of water over time through the pores in their leaves. However, certain plants have a waxy cuticle layer. This layer prevents water from going into or out of the leaves of the plant. As you can see in this picture, the waxy cuticle layer composed of cutin that covers the epidermal cells of this leaf will not allow water inside of it therefore, the water rests on the surface of the leaf.

Population

This is a photo of a large gathering of people inside of a church. This photo is a representation of a population. A population is the total amount of all members of a group or species that live in a specific area. In the study of ecology, the population of a certain group or species is determined using the Lincoln Index.

Homeostasis

In this photo we see geese. These geese are endothermic, and therefore must maintain a stable internal body temperature. They do this by performing one of the key characteristics of life, which is homeostasis. Homeostasis is the ability for organisms to maintain stable internal conditions such as pH and temperature as well as produce negative feedback to help rectify bodily issues. Without homeostasis, these geese would die.

Pollen

In this photo, we see pollen that has collected along a flower. Pollen is the method of reproduction for flowering plants such as this one, and is produced in the stamen of a flower. The pollen carries the male sperm cells that will eventually attach to stigma of another flower during cross pollination. Pollen can be dispersed though air, wind, water, and is also carried by some pollinators such as bees.

Phloem

After a tree dies, you can often count the rings inside of the tree to indicate the tree's average age. these rings are actually composed of the remains of deceased phloem. The phloem is the vascular tissue in plants that carries sugars and fluids downward. In this photo you can clearly see the rings of the deceased phloem as this tree grew each year.

Genetic Variation in a Population

In the human population, there are many genetic variations. In this picture, myself and my friend Will exemplify some common genetic variations in the human population. One of these variations is the difference in hair color, which occurs due to the difference in our parents genes. Also, our difference in skin color is another genetic variation that occurs due to the varying amount of melanin in our bodies.

Niche

In every ecosystem, each organism has a specific function known as a niche. Here in this picture, we see a tree. While this tree appears to just be stationary and performing no actions, it is actually performing functions essential to the environment around it. Specifically, this tree's niche is to provide a home for various animals, a support structure for creeping plants, as well as go through the process of photosynthesis and eventually produce oxygen.

Modified Stem

This is a photo of onions. Onions are an example of plants that have a modified stem. In the case of these onions, they have a modified stem known as a bulb, specifically known as a tunicate bulb. The "tunicate" comes from the dried outer layers that enclose the it. In bulbs the modified stem has all of the nutrients stored in it, and it grows underground.

Modified Root

This is a photo of a carrot. Carrots are an example of a dicot, and or a plant that has a taproot. The taproot that carrots contain, is an example of a modified root, because instead of branching outwards, the main root of the carrot grows straight down into the soil with its xylem on the inside and its phloem on the outside. As you can see, the carrot itself is the modified root that grows under the soil while the green leaves stay above the surface.

Modified Leaf

This photo is of a cactus. A cactus is unlike other plants because it has spines, which are a form of a modified leaf. These spines differ from regular leaves because instead of absorbing sunlight and producing energy for the plant, these modified leaves (spines) help to collect water, provide shade, and protect the cactus from predators.

Gymnosperm Leaf

This is a picture of a pine tree and its leaves. A pine tree is classified as a gymnosperm type plant, which means that it has exposed seeds, which in this case are the cones that can be seen in the picture. These seeds grown on the modified gymnosperm leaves that can be seen in the picture. These leaves' primary function is to provide a surface for development of these seeds (cones) as well as protect them.

Flower Ovary

This photo shows the exposed flower ovary of a tulip. The flower ovary is apart of the female reproductive organ in flowering plants. Its main function is to hold the ovules of the flowering plant. It is located  below the point of connection of the pedals (which had already fallen off at this point), which can be seen in the photo.

Exoskeleton

This is a photo of a very large spider (that I refused to get too close to). This spider, much like other insects such as grasshoppers and cockroaches as well as various crustaceans and shelled mollusks, has an exoskeleton. Exoskeletons serve as an external support structure that protect all of the animals internal functions, these skeletons are also known as "shells".

Endotherm

This is a photo of my mom, Angie. My mom is an example of an endotherm. An endotherm is an organism that is able to maintain a stable internal body temperature despite outside conditions. All mammals and birds are endotherms, and certain fish such as tuna are also endothermic

Adaptation of an Animal

This is a photo of a praying mantis. Praying Mantids exemplify many different adaptations. An adaptation is a special skill or trait that an animal has developed and maintained to adjust to its surroundings. Praying Mantids contain many adaptations such as their color (green to blend in with leaves), shorter but faster sets of front legs (to easily snatch prey), and the ability to turn their heads 180 degrees to spot prey.



* It cannot be seen based off the quality of the picture, but the praying mantis had its head turned 180 degrees and was looking at me taking the picture.

CAM Plant

               In this photo, we have a pineapple. A pineapple is an example of a CAM plant. CAM plants are any plants that utilize the crassulacean acid metabolism method of converting organic acids into CO2 for the Calvin cycle. CAM plants often contain thick bundled leaves that, at night, open to so that the stomata can intake CO2. These plants are specialized to survive in arid conditions in which water is limited. CAM plants comprise roughly 5% of all land plants and include pineapples, Spanish moss, orchids, and agave.

C4 Plant

This is a photo of corn. Corn are an example of a C4 plant. A C4 plant is any plant that uses both the C3 and C4 processes of photosynthesis, and has leaves that contain a specialized anatomy known as Kranz Anatomy. Specifically, this anatomy is when a leaf contains vascular bundles that are completely surrounded by bundle sheath cells. Typically these plants can be found in a tropical or semi-tropical environment in which there can be little water and high temperatures. C4 plants encompass roughly 3% of all land plants, and are only found in angiosperms. Some of these plants include sugar cane, sorghum, millets, and of course, corn. 

C3 Plant

               This is photo, is a close up of rice. Rice is an example of a C3 Plant. A C3 Plant, is any plant that undergoes the Calvin, or C3 cycle, pathway of photosynthesis to produce CO2 into energy. Roughly 92% of all plants are C3 plants, and rice falls under this category along with most grains, trees, and shrubs. These plants can mostly be found in cool, temperate environments in which water is in abundance.

Autotroph

                 This is a photo of seagrass, plants such as this are found commonly in coastal areas. This type of seagrass was photographed in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Seagrass is an example of an autotroph. An autotroph is anything that takes simple organic compounds from its environment and converts it into energy. In the case of this seagrass, it takes in light, and through the process of photosynthesis, produces its own source of energy. Unlike heterotrophs, autotrophs do not need a living source of energy, which is why they are also known as producers.

Anther and Filament of a Stamen

             This is the anther and filament of a stamen that belong to a tulip. The stamen's function is to produce pollen. It can be divided into two parts, the anther and the filament. The filament's main purpose is to support the anther, which produces the pollen. In the picture you can clearly see the anther and filament and the pollen that has been produced.

Animal with a Segmented Body

              This is a picture of bloodworms, bloodworms are an example of an animal with a segmented body. Segmentation is common in the three major phyla Arthropoda, Annelida, and Chordata, and it serves various functions such as indicating areas of growth and providing structure. These bloodworms fall under the phylum of Annelida and therefore have segmentation. In the case of these bloodworms, their segmentation is composed of muscles known as setae, which provide support for vital structures as well as indicates growth areas.