Unit 4 - Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other, as well as with their environment.
What the difference between abiotic and biotic factors that influence ecosystems?
Abiotic factors are from non-living things. EXAMPLES: Water, sunlight, minerals, temperature, air… Biotic factors are from living things. EXAMPLES : Plants, animals, fungus, bacteria…
What is the ‘10% rule’?
Only 10% of the energy in a food pyramid travels up a level. For example, if plants are at the bottom of the pyramid, and giraffes are the next level, 10% of the energy from plants goes up to the giraffes.
What is a Natural ecosystem? Give examples
A natural ecosystem is an ecosystem that occurs as it would without human beings. There are no buildings, roads, or anything else that disturbs it. EXAMPLES: Forests, deserts, mountains…
What is an artificial ecosystem? Give examples
An artificial ecosystem meets all the criteria of a natural ecosystem, but is controlled by humans. EXAMPLES: Orchards, farmlands, gardens…
What are trophic levels?
The levels of a food chain (Food pyramid). EX: 1st carnivore, top carnivore, herbivore
What do decomposers do?
They eat dead animals (Mostly predators). After this, they absorb the energy and put it back into the ground, providing energy to plants, and starting the cycle over again.
Name the 5 levels of the food chain
Predators (Top Carnivore) (this could go on to be quaternary, quinary, etc.) Tertiary consumers (2nd carnivores) Secondary consumers (1st carnivores) Primary consumers (herbivores) Plants (BOTTOM)
What is the difference between a food web and a food chain?
A food web can branch off into many different animals, while a food chain only travels in one direction.
Identify the producers in a food web.
The producers in a food web are plants, at trophic level one. (producers)
If one species is removed/reduced from the food pyramid, what will happen to the other levels of the pyramid?
If a species at the BOTTOM of the pyramid is removed/reduced, then the higher levels will not have enough food to survive. If a species at the TOP of the pyramid is removed/reduced, then the lower levels will be overpopulated and could start eating everyone else’s food.
What are consumers?
Consumers are animals that eat a plant or something that has ALREADY eaten a plant to get nutrients and energy. They cannot use the sun to make chemical energy
What is a food chain?
A food chain shows the feeding relationship between organisms. It starts with a producer, continues through many different consumers, and ends with a top carnivore. At any stage, any consumer/producer in a food chain can decompose into the ground.
What is the difference between biotic and abiotic?
Biotic is living, Abiotic is non-living. /*I hope to god you know this*/
What are autotrophs?
Organisms that can make nutrients from simple abiotic substances such as carbon dioxide. EX: All plants
