Biological Interactions

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the relationship between living things and their environment

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

The abiotic and biotic factors in which organisms live.

Question 3

Biosphere

Answer 3

part of Earth supporting life

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

A number of the same species living in the same habitat at the same time

Question 5

Community

Answer 5

Different species living in the same habitat

Question 6

Ecosystem

Answer 6

Community + Physical surroundings

Question 7

Niche

Answer 7

A species’ role and position in its environment and its interaction with the biotic and abiotic factors

Question 8

Producer

Answer 8

autotrophic organism forming the base of all food chains; convert simple inorganic chemicals into complex organic molecules

Question 9

Detritus

Answer 9

Decomposing organic matter such as rotting leaves and decaying animal remains

Question 10

Abiotic Factors associated with climate

Answer 10

Temperature - narrow function range
Water - essential for life
Radiant Energy (Light) - essential for photosynthesis
Humidity - affects rate of water evaporation - dorught
Wind and air currents - plants with strong wind can withstand / disperses seeds/ animal flight

Question 11

Abiotic Factors connected with soil

Answer 11

pH - influences the distribution of plants in soil
Water retention - sand vs clay

Question 12

Abiotic Factors related to geography

Answer 12

Water Currents - waves
Salinity - saltwater vs freshwater
Topography - texture and pattern of the habitat (camouflage)
Shelter - protection

Question 13

Intraspecific

Answer 13

between individuals of the same species

Question 14

Interspecific

Answer 14

between different species

Question 15

Symbiosis

Answer 15

a interspecific relationship in which two organisms live in close association over a long period of time

Question 16

Mutualism

Answer 16

both species benefit from the obligatory interaction - clownfish and sea anemones (shelter and excretory nutrients)

Question 17

Cooperation

Answer 17

Each species benefits from the association, but the presence of one is not essential to the survival of the other - sea anemones living on the shells of crabs

Question 18

Commensalism

Answer 18

One organism benefits and the other is not affected - egrets and cattle

Question 19

Amensalism

Answer 19

one species inhibits the other - antibiotics inhibit bacteria growth

Question 20

Parasitism

Answer 20

asssociation between organisms in which one species is completely dependent upon the other which is usually harmed

Question 21

abundance

Answer 21

number of species in a specific area at anytime

Question 22

species richness

Answer 22

a measure of the numbers of species present

Question 23

species evenness

Answer 23

the number of individuals in a species relative to the total number of individuals in all species within a habitat, ecosystem, or biome

Question 24

species diversity

Answer 24

a measure of the number of species found in a community, compared with the number of individuals

Question 25

zonation

Answer 25

the breaking of the biome into habitat zones

Question 26

random sampling - quadrats

Answer 26

a method of selecting a sample from a total array in a way that every possible sample has an equal chance of being selected - measures for abundance

Question 27

belt transect

Answer 27

a long strip of terrain with a known width and length used for species abundance and distribution

Question 28

line intercepts

Answer 28

line on a straight line cutting through the community - relative density - used for distribution

Question 29

% abundance of a species X

Answer 29

population of species x / population of community * 100