Ecology Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the definition of ecology?
Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
True or False: Ecology focuses on the interactions between living organisms and their environment.
True
What are the levels of ecological organization from smallest to largest?
Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
What is a population in ecology?
A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.
What is a community in ecology?
All the populations of different species that live and interact in the same area.
What is an ecosystem in ecology?
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
What is a biome in ecology?
A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
What is the biosphere in ecology?
The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem?
Abiotic factors are non-living components like temperature and soil, while biotic factors are living organisms like plants and animals.
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web in ecology?
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each serves as a food source for the next, while a food web is a more complex network of interconnected food chains.
What is the primary source of energy in most ecosystems?
The sun
What is a trophic level in an ecosystem?
A position in the food chain that determines the organism’s feeding relationship to other organisms.
What is the difference between a producer and a consumer in an ecosystem?
Producers are organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis, while consumers rely on other organisms for food.
What is a decomposer in an ecosystem?
An organism that breaks down dead organic material.
What is the water cycle in ecology?
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
What is the carbon cycle in ecology?
The process by which carbon is cycled through the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.
What is the nitrogen cycle in ecology?
The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms in the environment.
What is the difference between a habitat and a niche in ecology?
A habitat is the physical environment where an organism lives, while a niche is the role and position of an organism in its environment.
What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition in ecology?
Intraspecific competition is competition between individuals of the same species, while interspecific competition is competition between individuals of different species.
What is ecological succession?
The process by which an ecological community gradually changes over time.
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs in an area with no soil, while secondary succession occurs in an area with existing soil.
What is the difference between a pioneer species and a climax community in ecological succession?
A pioneer species is the first to colonize an area, while a climax community is the final stage of ecological succession.
What is biodiversity in ecology?
The variety of life forms in an ecosystem, biome, or the entire planet.
What is the difference between a keystone species and an indicator species in ecology?
A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, while an indicator species provides information on the overall condition of an ecosystem.
