Unit 7 - Ecology

Question 1

the scientific study of the interactions among living organisms and their environments

Answer 1

ecology

Question 2

the parts of Earth that are capable of supporting life

Answer 2

biosphere

Question 3

the non-living parts of the environment (ex: air currents, moisture, water, soil)

Answer 3

abiotic factors

Question 4

the living parts of the environment (organisms)

Answer 4

biotic factors

Question 5

the level of organization at which we only observe 1 single organism

Answer 5

individual

Question 6

the level of organization at which we observe many of the same species living together in the same space at the same time

Answer 6

population

Question 7

the level of organization at which we observe multiple populations of different species interacting with each other

Answer 7

community

Question 8

the level of organization at which we observe communities interacting with the abiotic factors of their environment

Answer 8

ecosystem

Question 9

the place where an organism lives out its life; it will find food, shelter, and a place for reproduction here

Answer 9

habitat

Question 10

the role an organism plays in its environment; the position or job it occupies

Answer 10

niche

Question 11

a specific, close, and permanent association among organisms of different species; has 3 types

Answer 11

symbiosis

Question 12

a type of symbiosis where one species benefits from the relationship, and the other is not harmed and does not receive a benefit

Answer 12

commensalism

Question 13

a type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the relationship

Answer 13

mutualism

Question 14

a type of symbiosis where one species benefits at the expense of the other; one species benefits, the other is harmed

Answer 14

parasitism

Question 15

a species which hunts another for food

Answer 15

predator

Question 16

a species which is hunted; it is a food source for another species

Answer 16

prey

Question 17

the ultimate source of energy on Earth

Answer 17

the sun

Question 18

those species which make their own food (usually plants through photosynthesis)

Answer 18

autotrophs

Question 19

those species that get their food from another source (usually by consuming another organism)

Answer 19

heterotroph

Question 20

a heterotroph which consumes only plants

Answer 20

herbivore

Question 21

a heterotroph which consumes only meat

Answer 21

carnivore

Question 22

a heterotroph which consumes both plants and meat

Answer 22

omnivore

Question 23

a heterotroph whose diet consists of dead animals that it did not hunt

Answer 23

scavenger (may also be known as detritivore)

Question 24

an organism which breaks down complex compounds of dead/decaying organisms and recycles them into the environment; this organism will affect all levels of a food chain

Answer 24

decomposer

Question 25

a simple pathway for showing the flow of matter and energy in an ecosystem

Answer 25

food chain

Question 26

each "step" of a food chain where energy is gained/lost

Answer 26

trophic level

Question 27

a representation of all possible feeding relationships for organisms in an ecosystem; more realistic model, network of interconnected food chains

Answer 27

food web

Question 28

As we move from one trophic level in a food chain to the next, we will LOSE ____% of energy.

Answer 28

90%

Question 29

an organism in a food chain which produces its own food; will usually be an autotroph

Answer 29

producer

Question 30

an organism in a food chain which obtains food from another organism; will always be a heterotroph

Answer 30

consumer

Question 31

the first consumer in a food chain

Answer 31

primary consumer

Question 32

the second consumer in a food chain

Answer 32

secondary consumer

Question 33

the third consumer in a food chain

Answer 33

tertiary consumer

Question 34

the fourth consumer in a food chain

Answer 34

quaternary consumer

Question 35

There are many _______ in nature, because elements are never completely used up, only transformed.

Answer 35

cycles

Question 36

This image shows the...

Answer 36

water cycle

Question 37

the cycle in nature which includes photosynthesis and cellular respiration

Answer 37

carbon cycle

Question 38

a cycle in nature where _________ fixing bacteria take this element from the air and turn it into a form that other organisms can use

Answer 38

nitrogen cycle

Question 39

the element of this cycle is essential for growth and development of organisms; it is produced by lightning and stored in rocks

Answer 39

phosophorus cycle

Question 40

an increase in the size of a population over time

Answer 40

population growth

Question 41

type of population growth which produces a straight line graph

Answer 41

linear growth

Question 42

type of population growth that results in a J-shaped graph; as the population gets larger, it grows more rapidly ("population explosion")

Answer 42

exponential growth

Question 43

the maximum number of organisms of one species that an environment can support

Answer 43

carrying capacity

Question 44

type of population growth that results in an S-shaped curve graph; most realistic

Answer 44

logistic growth

Question 45

environmental limits to population growth

Answer 45

limiting factors

Question 46

limiting factors where the density of the population does matter (ex: disease, competition for resources)

Answer 46

density dependent factors

Question 47

limiting factors where the density of the population does NOT matter; usually abiotic factors such as weather or soil conditions

Answer 47

density independent factors

Question 48

occurs when there are too many organisms in one area and not enough resources

Answer 48

competition for resources

Question 49

occurs when there are far too many organisms of one species in an area; will usually lead to greater aggression, decreased fertility, and decreased parental care

Answer 49

overcrowding

Question 50

how to calculate overall population growth

Answer 50

Growth = Initial Population + Birth Rates + Immigration Rates - Death Rates - Emigration Rates

Question 51

representation of the proportions of a population that are at different age levels; enables scientists to predict population growth

Answer 51

age structure

Question 52

age structure which has a very wide base because of large populations of young who have not entered reproductive years

Answer 52

rapid growth

Question 53

age structure which shows relatively even proportions of all age groups(relatively even top-to-bottom)

Answer 53

stable growth

Question 54

age structure which shows the greatest numbers in those age groups which have passed the reproductive years (largest groups in the middle)

Answer 54

slow growth

Question 55

a mathematical equiation to calculate genetic variation of a population

Answer 55

Hardy-Weinberg equation

Question 56

the orderly, natural changes and species replacements that take place over time

Answer 56

succession

Question 57

the type of succession that starts with a completely lifeless environment and ends with a climax community

Answer 57

primary succession

Question 58

the first species to inhabit an area (ex: lichen, mosses)

Answer 58

pioneer species

Question 59

a community which naturally undergoes little or no change in species

Answer 59

climax community

Question 60

This image shows which type of succession?

Answer 60

primary succession; it starts with bare rock with absolutely no life

Question 61

the sequence of community changes that takes place after a community is disrupted by natural disasters or human actions (ex: floods, fires, avalanches, deforestation)

Answer 61

secondary succession

Question 62

Which type of succession is shown

Answer 62

secondary succession; this one starts with a natural disaster(forest fire), and different pioneer species re-establish themselves to pave the way to the climax community

Question 63

a species which is customarily (or "naturally") found in an environment

Answer 63

native species

Question 64

a species which has been introduced into the environment; these usually "take over" by out-competing native species

Answer 64

non-native or invasive species

Question 65

a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community

Answer 65

biome

Question 66

water biome made of 2 parts: photic (sunlight can penetrate, photosynthesis occurs) and aphotic (deeper water, no sunlight)

Answer 66

marine biome

Question 67

biome with a coastal body of water partially surrounded by land that has brackish water (mix of fresh and saltwater) (Ex: Chesapeake Bay)

Answer 67

estuary

Question 68

a biome which is an area that is exposed when the tide is low, but covered with water when the tide is high

Answer 68

intertidal zone

Question 69

Rivers, lakes, and streams make up this type of biome

Answer 69

freshwater

Question 70

a biome with high latitude lands, extremely cold temperatures, no trees; DOES have permafrost (layer under the topsoil that is permanently frozen)

Answer 70

tundra

Question 71

a biome with high latitude lands, extremely cold temperatures, and conifer trees; does NOT have permafrost

Answer 71

taiga

Question 72

a biome in arid regions with sparse to almost nonexistent plant life; very little annual rain. Plants which live in these areas tend to have spines to reduce water loss and protect themselves from herbivores

Answer 72

desert

Question 73

a biome with a large area that is covered by grasses and small plants; also known as prairies, steppes, or savannahs

Answer 73

grassland

Question 74

a biome that is dominated by broad-leaved hardwood trees which are deciduous (lose their leaves in winter)

Answer 74

temperate forest

Question 75

a biome with very warm temperatures, wet weather, and lush plant growth; this biome tends to have the largest amount of biodiversity

Answer 75

tropical rainforest