{"thcode":2,"term":{"code":650,"name":"life sciences","parent":1019,"scope":"Branches of science that study living and fossil organisms."},"uf":[{"name":"biological sciences","usewith":false},{"name":"biology","usewith":false}],"bt":[{"code":1019,"name":"sciences","parent":1,"scope":"Major educational fields, fields of study, and professional groupings within USGS."},{"code":1,"name":"Categories","parent":null,"scope":"Thematic terms for categorizing information resources.  This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information."}],"nt":[{"code":39,"name":"anatomy and physiology","parent":650,"scope":"Study of the body structures (anatomy) and life functions and activities (physiology)of plants and animals."},{"code":53,"name":"aquatic biology","parent":650,"scope":"The scientific study of organisms living in or near water.  This term is to be used for the science of 'aquatic biology' and for  biological studies in fresh and brackish water. For marine biological studies, use 'marine biology'."},{"code":89,"name":"biochemistry","parent":650,"scope":"Study of chemical processes that occur within or are mediated by living organisms."},{"code":127,"name":"botany","parent":650,"scope":"The science of plants."},{"code":151,"name":"cell biology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology that deals with the study of the formation, structure, and physiology of cells."},{"code":247,"name":"developmental biology","parent":650,"scope":"Scientific study of the processes related to the transformation of living organisms from single cells to complex multi-celled individuals."},{"code":311,"name":"ecology","parent":650,"scope":"Study of the relations between living plants and animals and their environment."},{"code":320,"name":"ecotoxicology","parent":650,"scope":"Scientific study of causes, dispersal, and effects of contaminants on the environment."},{"code":433,"name":"genetics","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology that deals with heredity or the passing of traits in living organisms from one generation to the next."},{"code":702,"name":"marine biology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the organisms and habitats of the seas and oceans."},{"code":735,"name":"microbiology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology dealing with organisms too small to be seen without the use of a microscope."},{"code":756,"name":"molecular biology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the study of physiology at the molecular level."},{"code":758,"name":"morphology (biological)","parent":650,"scope":"The scientific study of the form, shape, and structure of plants and animals and their fossil remains."},{"code":767,"name":"mycology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi."},{"code":871,"name":"parasitology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the study of organisms that, living on or in another organism, take nutrition from the host and often harm it."},{"code":876,"name":"pathology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology concerned with the study of the causes, progress, symptoms, diagnosis, and effects of diseases."},{"code":1131,"name":"systematics and taxonomy","parent":650,"scope":"Study of the identification, naming, and classification of organisms."},{"code":1339,"name":"zoology","parent":650,"scope":"Branch of biology that deals with the reproduction, development and growth, anatomy, physiology, and behavior of animals."}],"rt":[{"code":92,"name":"biodiversity","parent":921,"scope":"The variety in form, genetics, and ecological roles of organisms within a specific geographic area."},{"code":103,"name":"biological informatics","parent":585,"scope":"Development and use of computer, statistical, and other tools in the collection, organization, dissemination, and use of information to solve problems in the life sciences."},{"code":108,"name":"biological productivity","parent":310,"scope":"The rate at which primary producers in the ecosystem utilize solar energy to produce food for consumption by other organisms. Do not use this term for productivity of organisms related to studies of the reproduction rates of a species."},{"code":116,"name":"biota","parent":841,"scope":"All living organisms in an area."},{"code":238,"name":"decomposers","parent":841,"scope":"Organisms, chiefly microorganisms and invertebrates, that feed on dead plant or animal matter breaking it down and recycling the resulting elements and compounds in the environment."},{"code":267,"name":"disease vectors","parent":533,"scope":"Organisms, such as insects, that transmit pathogens from one host to another."},{"code":268,"name":"dispersal (organisms)","parent":310,"scope":"The dissemination or geographic spread of individuals of a plant or animal population."},{"code":332,"name":"endangered species","parent":841,"scope":"Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range."},{"code":333,"name":"endemic species","parent":768,"scope":"Plant and animals species native to and confined to specific geographic areas."},{"code":365,"name":"extinction and extirpation","parent":310,"scope":"Extinction is the complete disappearance of a species from the earth.  Extirpation is the complete disappearance (elimination) of a species from a given region, island, or area."},{"code":533,"name":"health and disease","parent":1174,"scope":"Normal and abnormal conditions of plant and animal bodies.  Covers both human and non-human health and disease topics. For human health and disease, use the narrower term 'environmental health (human)'."},{"code":602,"name":"invasive species","parent":797,"scope":"Plant, animal, or microbe species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health."},{"code":743,"name":"migration (organisms)","parent":310,"scope":"The movement of animals, often periodical, from one area to another due to seasonal changes, availability of food, or climatic conditions."},{"code":768,"name":"native species","parent":841,"scope":"Organisms originating in the area where they live."},{"code":777,"name":"natural resources","parent":1174,"scope":"Stocks of anything naturally occurring that have a beneficial use for man including economic, nutritional, recreational, aesthetic, and other benefits."},{"code":797,"name":"nonindigenous species","parent":841,"scope":"Organisms accidentally or intentionally introduced into areas where they did not previously originate or live."},{"code":841,"name":"organism groupings (non-taxonomic)","parent":1174,"scope":"Used for categories of living organisms that are not taxonomic and that include species from more than one taxonomic group."},{"code":843,"name":"organisms","parent":1174,"scope":"Living individuals that grow, reproduce, and die."},{"code":861,"name":"paleontology","parent":291,"scope":"Study of life in past geologic time based on fossil plants and animals."},{"code":906,"name":"plant and animal tagging","parent":379,"scope":"Methods of attaching a tag or marker to an organism as long-term identification for study purposes."},{"code":1020,"name":"scientific careers","parent":1174,"scope":"Professions in which people carry out or support scientific research or monitoring."},{"code":1054,"name":"sexing (plants & animals)","parent":379,"scope":"Determination of the sex of an individual organism for study purposes, such as wildlife surveys."}]}