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Unit 5 Ecology Flashcards

(64 cards)

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1
Q

What is ecology?

A

the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environments

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2
Q

Levels of organization low to high

A

Species: a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Population: group of individuals of the same species living in the same area
Community: different populations that live together in the same area
Ecosystem: all the organisms in a particular area, plus the nonliving environment
Biome: group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
Biosphere: the entire planet, including all ecosystems and organisms

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3
Q

What is abiotic factors vs biotic factors? (give examples)

A

Biotic factors: living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, bacteria)
Abiotic factors: nonliving physical or chemical aspects (sunlight, water, temperature, soil)

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4
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather is the short-term conditions of the atmosphere, and climate is the average long-term weather patterns in a region over time.

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5
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The greenhouse effect is the process where gases like CO2, methane, and water vapor trap heat in the atmosphere. Increased greenhouse gases enhance this effect, causing global temperatures to rise and contributing to climate change.

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6
Q

What causes wind patterns?

A

uneven heating of the Earth’s surface by the sun the rotation of the Earth, and differences in air pressure

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7
Q

What is a primary producer (autotroph)?

A

can capture energy from nonliving sources and convert it into forms living cells can use. Autotrophs also store energy in ways that make it available to other organisms

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8
Q

How do producers make their own food? Give two different processes.

A

Photosynthesis- uses sun energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.
Chemosynthesis->which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates

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9
Q

What is a consumer (heterotroph)? What are the different types?

A

Heterotroph-> organisms that require energy by consuming other organisms
Herbivores-> obtain energy by eating plants, seeds, roots, or fruit
Carnivores-> obtain energy from killing and eating other animals
Omnivores-> obtain energy from eating both plants and other animals
Scavengers-> consume carcasses of other animals that have already been killed by predators or natural causes
Decomposers-> chemically break down organic matter to create detritus
Detritivores-> chew/grind detritus into smaller pieces

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10
Q

What is a food chain?

A

a series of organisms in which energy is transferred from one organism to another

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11
Q

What is a food web?

A

network of feeding interactions,through which both energy and matter move

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12
Q

What is a trophic level?

A

Each step in a food chain is a trophic level. An example are primary producers at the first trophic level.

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13
Q

What is the pyramid of biomass?

A

Shows the amount of living matter at each level

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14
Q

What is the pyramid of energy?

A

shows the flow of energy at each trophic level. energy decreases as you move up

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15
Q

What is the pyramid of numbers?

A

shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level

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16
Q

What is the 10% rule within the pyramid of energy?

A

Only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next. the rest is lost as heat

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17
Q

What is a biogeochemical cycle?

A

Matter flows from one trophic level to another, and elements are recycled within and among ecosystems.

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18
Q

What is the significance of the water cycle?

A

It distributes water across the Earth’s surface and atmosphere, supporting all life forms. It includes processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration

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19
Q

What is the significance of the carbon cycle?

A

It regulates the Earth’s climate and supports life by circulating carbon through the atmosphere, organisms, oceans, and rocks. It includes processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion

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20
Q

How do photosynthesis and cellular respiration assist in the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide?

A

Photosynthesis: Plants use carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Cellular respiration: Animals (and plants) use oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Both create a cycle that helps maintain atmospheric balance.

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21
Q

What is the significance of the nitrogen cycle?

A

The nitrogen cycle converts nitrogen into forms usable by living organisms. It involves processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.

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22
Q

How are populations defined?

A

their geographic range, growth rate, density, distribution, and age structure

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23
Q

What is population density?

A

The number of individuals that
can be found per unit area

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24
Q

What is birth rate?

A

the amount of offspring born in a certain time period

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25
What is death rate?
the amount of individuals dying in a certain time period
26
What is immigration?
individuals move into a population’s range
27
What is emigration?
individuals move out of a population’s range
28
Describe an exponential growth graph
grows at the same rate but multiplies or divides over time
29
Describe the 3 phases of a logistic growth graph
Phase 1- population grows rapidly Phase 2- growth slows Phase 3-growth stops and stabilizes at carrying capacity
30
What are resources? How might they factor into the graphs you drew above?
any available asset, material, or ability that can be used to achieve a desired outcome or fulfill a need. They could change the pattern of the graphs
31
What is the carrying capacity of a population? What determines this capacity?
The carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that a particular environment can support. A variety of both abiotic and biotic factors can determine this capacity.
32
What are limiting factors?
any factor that controls the growth of a population. Limiting factors are either biotic or abiotic environmental factors that affect members of the population.
33
What are density-dependent limiting factors? Give examples
Limiting factors that operate strongly when the number of organisms per unit area, or population density, reaches a certain level. Some examples are competition, stress from overcrowding, parasitism, disease, predation, and herbivory
34
What are density-independent limiting factors? Give examples
affect all populations regardless of population size and density. Some examples are weather extremes and natural disasters.
35
Explain how predator-prey relationships are examples of density-dependent limiting factors.
Prey increase= more food for predators= predators increase= prey decreases= predator decreases=cycle restarts
36
What is a habitat?
the actual place an organism lives
37
What is a microhabitat?
a localized and small scale environment that supports a distinct flora and fauna
38
What are microbiomes?
the microorganisms in a particular environment (including the body or a part of the body
39
What is tolerance and why is it ideal for each organism to be in its ‘optimum range’ in order to survive?
Tolerance is variety of environmental conditions within which it can survive and reprodue. It’s ideal for each organism because it enables organisms to find enough energy and nutrients to survive and reproduce and maintain homeostasis and to grow.
40
What is a niche?
describes where an organism lives and what it does “for a living,” including the way it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors.
41
Different species can coexist in the same habitat, but generally they need different niches to survive. Why is this the case?
they have different lifestyles and habits. If they all have the same niche, they all wouldn't survive
42
Explain how competition for resources plays a role in an organism’s survival. Explain the two different types of competition that exist.
Survival of the fittest leads to the idea of fighting for resources because if you don’t get any, you won’t survive. The two types are intraspecific competition, which is among members of the same species, and interspecific competition, which is among members of different species.
43
Explain the competitive exclusion principle
tates that no two species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time.
44
What is a keystone species?
a species that plays a vital and unique role in maintaining structure, stability and diversity in an ecosystem
45
What is symbiosis?
A particularly close, interdependent relationship between two species
46
What is commensalism?
One organism benefits and the other doesn’t get impacted-> banaracles attaching themselves to whales
47
What is mutualism?
both species benefit-> sea anemones and clownfish
48
What is parasitism?
one organism lives inside or on the other and harms it->tapeworms and mammals
49
Define Ecological Succession. What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
a series of somewhat predictable events that occur in a community over time. the difference between primary and secondary succession is that Primary succession begins on newly exposed land with no soil, while secondary succession starts in an area where there was a previous ecosystem, but the soil is still present.
50
What is biodiversity?
the variety and variability of animals, plants, and microorganisms, including ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.
51
What is ecosystem biodiversity?
variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes
52
What is species biodiversity?
the number of different species in a particular biosphere
53
What is genetic biodiversity?
the total of all different forms of genes present in a particular species.
54
What are the benefits of biodiversity?
offering invaluable contributions to medicine and agriculture, and enabling organisms and ecosystems to adapt to environmental change.
55
What ecosystem services exist to help maintain biodiversity?
producing food, cycling nutrients, purifying water, storing carbon, regulating pests, pollinating crops, and buffering the effects of extreme weather events.
56
How does habitat fragmentation threaten biodiversity?
reducing population sizes, limiting genetic diversity, and increasing edge effects
57
How does invasive species threaten biodiversity?
can drive native species into extinction
58
How does pollution threaten biodiversity?
degrading habitats, poisoning individuals, and increasing vulnerability to diseases or predators
59
How does population growth threaten biodiversity?
takes up natural resources and habitats for native species
60
How does climate change threaten biodiversity?
Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap more heat in the biosphere and cause global warming, which drives climate change
61
How does overharvesting and hunting threaten biodiversity?
can take out resources from species and can kill off species with hunting
62
What is sustainability?
the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
63
Describe the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources. Give examples.
Renewable: the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (ex. drinkable water, sunlight and wind) Non-renewable: the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (ex. fossil fuels)
64
Explain the difference between conservation and restoration.
Conservation emphasizes the wise and sustainable use of natural resources, while preservation seeks to protect nature from human impact, often with a goal of leaving it untouched.

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