Ecology quiz

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, relationships between living organisms and their physical environment

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

portion of the earth where life can exist or the habitable surface of the earth

Question 3

Biome

Answer 3

a large geographical area of distinctive groups of living organisms and specific climate characteristics

Question 4

Ecosystem

Answer 4

the interacting biotic and abiotic factors in a defined geographical area

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

the average weather conditions of a specific location over a period of years

Question 6

Tiaga

Answer 6

largest biome, evergreen conifers. cold long snowy winters with short moist summers

Question 7

Tundra

Answer 7

extremely cold, plants grow in mutualistic multispecies. permafrost

Question 8

Tropical rainforest

Answer 8

heavy rain, high temp, close to the equator, poor soil because of dense vegetation

Question 9

Ecological pyramids

Answer 9

biomass, number or organisms and energy in each trophic level. producers, herbivores, carnivores, top carnivores

Question 10

Terrestrial biomes

Answer 10

distinguished by their predominant vegetation, mainly determined by temp and rainfall

Question 11

Temperate forest

Answer 11

abundant water during growing season, cold winter temps limit photosynthesis and freezes water in the soil

Question 12

Estuary

Answer 12

where salt water meets fresh water, “nurseries of the sea”, enormous biological productivity and diversity

Question 13

Wetlands

Answer 13

areas of standing water that support aquatic plants-hydrophytes. marshes, swamps, bogs

Question 14

Climograph

Answer 14

a visual diagram that shows a locations physical characteristics

Question 15

Succession

Answer 15

the change in a species composition, structure or architecture of vegetation through time

Question 16

Food web

Answer 16

the transfer of energy within an ecosystem between organisms

Question 17

Prey defenses

Answer 17

mimicry: resembling another species
chemical warfare: using scents (skunk)

Question 18

Interactions

Answer 18

mutualism: a relationship where both members benefit (pollination)
parasitic a relationship where one member benefits

Question 19

Exclusion principle

Answer 19

two species cannot coexist if they occupy the same niche or there will be competition

Question 20

Keystone species

Answer 20

a species with a dominant role in a community structure (wolf) messes up the community

Question 21

Autotrophs

Answer 21

producers: plants that use light energy

Question 22

Heterotrophs

Answer 22

consumers: consume producers or other consumers

Question 23

Food chain

Answer 23

a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food

Question 24

Ressource partitioning

Answer 24

limited resources are divided by the species to avoid competition in an ecological niche

Question 25

Niche

Answer 25

a species functional role within its habitat

Question 26

Climax community

Answer 26

the stage where an ecosystem reaches the stable state. everyone exists in balance with each other and the community

Question 27

Carrying capacity

Answer 27

the maximum number of individuals that can be accommodated in a particular area or habitat

Question 28

Exponential growth

Answer 28

population starts out slowly and speeds up as the population increases

Question 29

Logistic growth

Answer 29

begins as exponential growth when the population is small but will decrease with time as the population encounters resource limitations

Question 30

R-selected species

Answer 30

insects, small and young, little to no parenting, rapid maturation, reproduce once

Question 31

K-selected species

Answer 31

mammals, few, large, intensive parenting, slow maturation, reproduce many times

Question 32

Population distribution

Answer 32

uniformed, random, clumped

Question 33

Population density

Answer 33

the number of organisms per square mile of land area

Question 34

Survivorship curves

Answer 34

represent the number of individuals in a population born at a given time (cohort)that remains alive as time passes

Question 35

Type I

Answer 35

the organisms survive till old age. Large mammals

Question 36

Type II

Answer 36

the organisms death is throughout their life history e.g., birds and lizards

Question 37

Type III

Answer 37

Organisms die in young age e.g., oysters and fishes

Question 38

Detrivores/decomposers

Answer 38

bacteria, fungi, earthworms

Question 39

Classification of organisms

Answer 39

prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, animals, biotic plants

Question 40

Nutrient cycle

Answer 40

nutrients cycle through an ecosystem and are renewed if the ecosystem is sustainable.

Question 41

Greenhouse effect

Answer 41

when gasses in Earth's atmosphere trap the suns heat and radiate the energy back to tye earth

Question 42

Bioaccumulation

Answer 42

the gradual accumulation of substances/chemicals in an organism and that organism absorbs the substance at a rate that is faster that at which the substance is lost or eliminated by excretion

Question 43

Smog

Answer 43

smoke + fog secondary air pollutant because of the reaction of 2 primary pollutants

Question 44

Acid rain

Answer 44

caused by the presence of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides and are transmitted by wind and air currents

Question 45

Demographic transition

Answer 45

death rate drops while the birth rate remains the same. growth rate increases

Question 46

Stratospheric ozone depletion

Answer 46

man made emissions causes destruction of earths outer layer

Question 47

Eutrophication

Answer 47

when the environment becomes rich with nutrients increasing plant and algae growth

Question 48

Endocrine disruptors

Answer 48

natural or man made chemicals that may interfere with the body's hormones