Ecology

Question 1

Trophic Level

Answer 1

each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses, and facts.

Question 3

Semelparity

Answer 3

The condition of an organism that has only one reproductive cycle during its lifetime.

Question 4

Realized Niche

Answer 4

the set of conditions actually used by a given animal (population, species), after interactions with other species (predation and especially competition) have been taken into account.

Question 5

Population

Answer 5

A population is a subset of individuals of one species that occupies a particular geographic area and, in sexually reproducing species, interbreeds.

Question 6

Organism

Answer 6

an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form that is living.

Question 7

Niche

Answer 7

In ecology, the term “niche” describes the role an organism plays in a community.

Question 8

Productivity

Answer 8

Productivity is the rate at which energy is added to the bodies of a group of organisms (such as primary producers) in the form of biomass.

Question 9

Net Primary

Answer 9

Net primary production (NPP) is the amount of biomass or carbon produced by primary producers per unit area and time, obtained by subtracting plant respiratory costs (Rp) from gross primary productivity (GPP) or total photosynthesis.

Question 10

Iteroparity

Answer 10

The term iteroparity refers to a reproductive strategy characterized by multiple reproductive cycles over the course of a lifetime.

Question 11

Hypothesis

Answer 11

A hypothesis is a concept or idea that you test through research and experiments.

Question 12

Fundamental Niche

Answer 12

A fundamental niche is the entire set of conditions under which an animal (population, species) can survive and reproduce itself.

Question 13

Fertility

Answer 13

The capacity to conceive or induce conception and thus generate offspring.

Question 14

Fecundity

Answer 14

Fecundity is the ability to produce offspring.

Question 15

Environmental Resistance

Answer 15

Environmental resistance is a process in which certain different elements or factors stop the growth of species uncontrollably.

Question 16

Ecosystem

Answer 16

An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.

Question 17

Ecology

Answer 17

Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them.

Question 18

Ecological Pyramid

Answer 18

An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation showing the relationship between different organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 19

Dispersal

Answer 19

Dispersal is an ecological process that involves the movement of an individual or multiple individuals away from the population in which they were born to another location, or population, where they will settle and reproduce.

Question 20

Community

Answer 20

an interacting group of various species in a common location.

Question 21

Carrying Capacity

Answer 21

a species’ average population size in a particular habitat.

Question 22

Biotic

Answer 22

living or once-living components of a community.

Question 23

Biome

Answer 23

a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate.

Question 24

Biomass

Answer 24

the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume.

Question 25

Biomagnification

Answer 25

the condition where the chemical concentration in an organism exceeds the concentration of its food when the major exposure route occurs from the organism’s diet.

Question 26

Biogeography

Answer 26

the study of the geographic distribution of plants, animals, and other forms of life.

Question 27

Abiotic

Answer 27

all the non-living factors present in an ecosystem.