bio-, bi-, -bia, -bial, -bian, -bion, -biont, -bius, -biosis, -bium, -biotic, -biotical +

Plankton, nekton, and suspended organic particulate matter derived from living organisms; the biological component of seston (the total particulate matter or separate particles that are suspended in water).

Life, in a general sense; vitality.

Osmosis through a living membrane.

1. Of or pertaining to the interaction of biological and social factors.
2. Relating to, or involving, an interaction or combination of social and biological factors.

The study of the evolution of social forms and the development of social behavior in terms analogous to or correlated with biological studies.

1. Solid or semisolid material obtained from treated wastewater, often used as fertilizer.
2. A nutrient-rich organic material, or byproduct, resulting from the treatment of municipal wastewater.

Biosolids can be safely recycled; for example, for fertilizers.

Biosolids contain nitrogen and phosphorus along with other supplementary nutrients in smaller doses; such as, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc.

Soil that is lacking in these substances can be reclaimed with biosolids use. The application of biosolids to land improves soil properties and plant productivity, and reduces dependence on inorganic fertilizers.

Structural and functional units in cytoplasm; such as, chondriosomes, chromidia and plastids.

1. The use of ultrasonic instruments to analyze and map parts of the body.
2. The use by certain animals of echoes of sounds they produce to locate objects in the perceptual field as with bats as they move around.

1. A biological species or a population of individuals which can breed together.
2. A species defined primarily on biological characteristics.

Spectroscopic determination of the types and amounts of various substances in living tissue or fluid from a living body.

A reference to the study of organisms whose natural habitat is wholly or partly in caves.

Someone who specializes in the study of organisms that live in caves.

1. The study of organisms whose natural habitat is wholly or partly subterranean.
2. The study of the fauna of caves.
3. The study of organisms that live in caves.

1. The regions of the earth’s crust and atmosphere that are occupied by living organisms; occasionally, the living organisms themselves.
2. The realm or sphere or life in which the total biological process takes place.

The earth's surface and the top layer of the hydrosphere (water layer) have the greatest density of living organisms.

The geosphere, or nonliving world, is made up of the lithosphere (solid earth or stone), hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

3. In Arizona, USA, an enclosed, supposedly self-contained experimental eco-system designed to provide environmental insights.

The initial two-year test, started in 1991, was called "Biosphere 1"; the second one was called "Biosphere 2", and was started in 1994.

A composting system that tumbles moistened soil waste in a drum until the waste biodegrades into a fine dark compost.

If you would like to take a series of self-scoring quizzes over some of the words in this bio- unit, then click this Bio-Quiz link so you can check your knowledge. You may also try several additional quizzes in this listing.