Unit 2

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

the study of one’s house

Question 2

Feedback loops

Answer 2

The output of the system feeds back into the system as an input and leads to changes in that system

Question 3

Negative Feedback Loop

Answer 3

Input and output essentially cancel each other out stabilizing the system

Question 4

Positive Feedback Loops

Answer 4

The output feeds back into the system and drives it further in one direction toward an extreme

Question 5

Energy

Answer 5

Capacity or ability to do work, flows through ecosystem

Question 6

First Law of Thermodynamics

Answer 6

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed but can be transformed

Question 7

Second law of thermodynamics

Answer 7

Energy transformations are very inefficient

Question 8

photosynthesis

Answer 8

producers trap solar energy and transform this into chemical/potential energy in the form of sugars

Question 9

Kinetic energy

Answer 9

work, heat/thermal, light

Question 10

respiration, combustion, decomposition

Answer 10

Stored potential energy trapped in the chemical bonds in the sugar is converted to kinetic energy by all living organisms

Question 11

Consumers

Answer 11

Feed on others to gain energy

Question 12

Producers

Answer 12

Gain energy from the sun

Question 13

Scavengers

Answer 13

consuming dead animal and plant material, feeds on scraps

Question 14

Decomposers

Answer 14

Break down remains and waste products as a part of the cycling of materials

Question 15

Biological Production

Answer 15

A method to quantify the energy trapped by plants

Question 16

Productivity

Answer 16

P = Biomass 2 – Biomass 1

Question 17

Macronutrients acronym

Answer 17

SPONCH

Question 18

Macronutrients

Answer 18

Required in large amounts as cell “building blocks”

Question 19

Micronutrients

Answer 19

Elements required in small amounts or moderate amounts by only some forms of life (vitamins, coenzymes)

Question 20

Species

Answer 20

individuals that share common genetic characteristics and able to breed and produce viable offspring

Question 21

Population

Answer 21

members of a species interacting in groups that live together in a particular place or habitat

Question 22

Community

Answer 22

consists of populations of different species living and interacting in an area (living)

Question 23

Ecosystem

Answer 23

is a community (living) interacting with its physical and chemical environment (non-living)

Question 24

Landscapes

Answer 24

connections linking several ecosystems in a particular region

Question 25

Geographic isolation

Answer 25

reduces biodiversity by limiting gene dispersal

Question 26

Latitudinal Gradient

Answer 26

Biodiversity is greatest at the equator and declines with latitude and is associated with climatic stability in temperature and precipitation

Question 27

Age of the ecosystem

Answer 27

tropical regions are “older” because they did not undergo glaciation and this has promoted the evolution of new species

Question 28

Structural complexity of the ecosystem

Answer 28

forests offer more ecological niches than grasslands

Question 29

Species Richness

Answer 29

of species

Question 30

Species Evenness

Answer 30

ind/species

Question 31

Dominance

Answer 31

more of any one species

Question 32

Ecological Niche

Answer 32

represents a multi-dimensional view of everything an organism does

Question 33

Resource Partitioning

Answer 33

To minimize this competition species will alter aspects of their ecological niche

Question 34

Symbiosis-Mutualism

Answer 34

-Sharing benefit=better off together then being alone

Question 35

Symbiosis-Commensalism

Answer 35

One species benefits, other not affected

Question 36

Symbiosis-Parasitism

Answer 36

Parasite benefits, host is harmed

Question 37

Predation

Answer 37

- Consumption of one species by another | - elaborate predator-prey strategies develop

Question 38

Predator-prey strategies

Answer 38

- Nocturnal behaviour - Live in social groups - Mechanical and chemical defences - Camouflage