array: A broad and organized group of objects. Sometimes they are instruments placed in a systematic fashion to collect information in a coordinated way. Other times, an array can refer to things that are laid out or displayed in a way that can make a broad range of related things, such as colors, visible at once. The term can even apply to a range of options or choices.
average: (in science) A term for the arithmetic mean, which is the sum of a group of numbers that is then divided by the size of the group.
biologist: A scientist involved in the study of living things.
crown: The upper region of something. (in botany) The part of a plant that lives aboveground. It includes the stem, branches and leaves.
current: (in electricity) The flow of electricity or the amount of charge moving through some material over a particular period of time.
drone: A remote-controlled, pilotless aircraft or missile.
ecological: An adjective that refers to a branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. A scientist who works in this field is called an ecologist.
ecosystem: A group of interacting living organisms — including microorganisms, plants and animals — and their physical environment within a particular climate. Examples include tropical reefs, rainforests, alpine meadows and polar tundra. The term can also be applied to elements that make up some an artificial environment, such as a company, classroom or the internet.
electrical resistance: The tendency of an electricity-conducting material to oppose the passage of a current through it. That resistance (usually measured in units known as ohms) will convert some of the electric energy into heat.
liana: Any woody vine that roots in the ground and then climbs trees. It doesn’t refer to any particular species, just the growth habit of certain plants. The term is especially reflective of vines that have come to dominate many tropical rainforests.
lightning: A flash of light triggered by the discharge of electricity that occurs between clouds or between a cloud and something on Earth’s surface. The electrical current can cause a flash heating of the air, which can create a sharp crack of thunder.
link: A connection between two people or things.
nutrient: A vitamin, mineral, fat, carbohydrate or protein that a plant, animal or other organism requires as part of its food in order to survive.
phenomena: Events or developments that are surprising or unusual.
physical: (adj.) A term for things that exist in the real world, as opposed to in memories or the imagination. It can also refer to properties of materials that are due to their size and non-chemical interactions (such as when one block slams with force into another).
physics: The scientific study of the nature and properties of matter and energy. Classical physics is an explanation of the nature and properties of matter and energy that relies on descriptions such as Newton’s laws of motion. Quantum physics, a field of study that emerged later, is a more accurate way of explaining the motions and behavior of matter. A scientist who works in such areas is known as a physicist.
recall: To remember.
species: A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce.
survey: To view, examine, measure or evaluate something, often land or broad aspects of a landscape.