Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

Study of interactions between organisms and their living and non-living environment

Question 2

Biotic Factor

Answer 2

Living factor that influences an organism

Question 2

Abiotic Factor

Answer 2

Non-living factor that influences an organism

Question 3

Ecotone

Answer 3

Transition area between ecosystems

Question 4

Climate

Answer 4

Weather conditions existing in an area in general or over a long period

Question 5

Biome

Answer 5

Large geographical region with a specific range of temperatures and precipitation, and the organisms that are adapted to those conditions of temperature and precipitation

Question 6

Relative Humidity

Answer 6

Amount of water vapor present in air (expressed as a % of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature)

Question 7

Evaporation Rate

Answer 7

Speed at which a liquid transitions into vapor (gaseous state)

Question 8

Soil Litter

Answer 8

Layer of dead plant and animal material that rests on the surface of soil (aka detritus, litterfall, duff)

Question 9

Ecological Niche

Answer 9

Organism’s role in an ecosystem, consisting of its place in the food web, its habitat, breeding area, and most active time of day

Question 10

Exotic Species

Answer 10

Species not native to an ecosystem (aka invasive/introduced species)

Question 11

Habitat

Answer 11

Place or type of environment with conditions suitable for the survival or an organism or population

Question 12

Tundra

Answer 12

Vast, flat, treeless Arctic region (of Europe, Asia, and North America) in which the subsoil is permanently frozen

Question 13

Taiga

Answer 13

Largest land biome, sometimes swampy coniferous forest, found in high northern latitudes between tundra and temperate forests (in North America, Europe, and Asia)

Question 14

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Answer 14

Have broadleaf trees that shed leaves annually, has 4 seasons, and located in mid-latitude areas (between polar regions and tropics)

Question 15

Grassland

Answer 15

Large areas of country dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants with minimal tree cover, moderate rainfall, can be found on every continent except Antarctica

Question 16

Canopy

Answer 16

Upper layer of vegetation in a forest

Question 17

Permafrost

Answer 17

Permanently frozen soil

Question 18

Muskeg

Answer 18

Soil above the permafrost that is swampy or boggy in summer

Question 19

Humus

Answer 19

Decaying plant and animal matter

Question 20

Deciduous

Answer 20

A tree/shrub (usually broadleaved) that sheds its leaves annually

Question 21

Understory

Answer 21

Mid -layer of vegetation/wooded area (between the canopy and floor), including shrubs, grasses, mosses, lichens, etc.

Question 22

Littoral Zone

Answer 22

Area from shore of a lake/pond to the point where no more plants grow in the lake bottom

Question 23

Limnetic Zone

Answer 23

Area of a lake/pond in which there is open water and sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur

Question 24

Profundal Zone

Answer 24

Region of a lake beneath the limnaetic zone, in which there is insufficient light for photosynthesis to occur

Question 25

Plankton

Answer 25

Autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms found in the limnetic zone of a lake or pond

Question 26

Leaf Litter

Answer 26

Layer of dead leaves, twigs, and other organic debris accumulating on the forest floor

Question 27

Topsoil

Answer 27

Soil layer beneath the litter, composed of small particles of rock mixed with humus

Question 28

Subsoil

Answer 28

Soil layer beneath the topsoil, usually containing more rock particles and less organic matter than topsoil

Question 29

Samples

Answer 29

Groups of a population/habitat used to make inferences about the larger group

Question 30

Quadrat

Answer 30

Each of a number of small areas of habitat, typically of 1m^2, selected at random to act as samples for assessing the local distribution of plants/animals

Question 31

Transect

Answer 31

Line across a habitat, used for sampling/studying the distribution and abundance of organisms along that line

Question 32

Migration

Question 33

Hibernate

Question 34

Biotic Potential

Question 35

Carrying Capacity

Question 36

Law of the Minimum

Question 37

Law of Tolerance

Question 38

Density — Independent Factor

Answer 38

Factor in an ecosystem that affects members of a population regardless of population density

Question 39

Density — Dependent Factor

Answer 39

Factor in an ecosystem that affect members of a population because of population density

Question 40

Taxonomy

Answer 40

Science of classification according to inferred (presumed) relationships among organisms

Question 41

Kingdom

Answer 41

Second-highest taxonomic rank

Question 42

Domain

Answer 42

Highest taxonomic rank

Question 43

Binomial Nomenclature

Answer 43

Method of naming organisms by using two names — genus and species name (scientific names are italicized)

Question 44

Dichotomous Key

Answer 44

Two-part key used to identify living things ("di" means two)

Question 45

Archaea

Answer 45

Microorganisms similar to bacteria in size and simplicity of structure but differ in molecular organization (part of an intermediate group between bacteria and eukaryotes)

Question 46

Eukarya

Answer 46

Domain made up of organisms that contain a nucleus within their cells (eukaryotic cells)

Question 47

Bacteria

Answer 47

Unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus (can cause disease)

Question 48

Prokaryotic

Answer 48

Unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

Question 49

Eukaryotic

Answer 49

Composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles

Question 50

Phylum

Answer 50

Taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class

Question 51

Class

Answer 51

Taxonomic rank below phylum and above order

Question 52

Order

Answer 52

Taxonomic rank below class and above family

Question 53

Family

Answer 53

Taxonomic rank below order and above genus

Question 54

Genus

Answer 54

Taxonomic rank below family and above species

Question 55

Species

Answer 55

Taxonomic rank below genus, group of organisms that look alike and can interbreed under natural conditions to produce fertile offspring

Question 56

Division

Question 57

Protista

Answer 57

Kingdom originally proposed for all unicellular organisms such as the amoeba (multicellular algae have also been added to this kingdom)

Question 58

Fungi

Answer 58

Group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools (not all fungi are mushrooms)

Question 59

Plantae

Answer 59

Biological kingdom comprised of all plants

Question 60

Animalia

Answer 60

Biological kingdom encompassing all animals.