What Is Global Ecology

Question 1

`Concept question: What is global ecosystem ecology?

Answer 1

studies how biological and physical components interact on a large scale, including human influence

Question 2

Concept question: Why is global ecosystem ecology important?

Answer 2

helps us to understand how ecosystems function, hoe energy + materials move through the environment and how human activities impact ecological balance

Question 3

Concept Question: What are the major branches of ecology?

Answer 3

Functional ecology, population ecology, community ecology and succession

Question 4

How individual organisms interact with their environment

Answer 4

Functional Ecology

Question 5

changes in population size over time and space

Answer 5

Population Ecology

Question 6

Species interactions within a specific area (Species diversity)

Answer 6

Community Ecology

Question 7

how species composition changes (After disturbances)

Answer 7

Succession

Question 8

Superorganism theory

Answer 8

Clements view

Question 9

Describe Clements View

Answer 9

Communities evolve towards a stable “climax” state, with species playing independent roles

Question 10

Individualistic concept

Answer 10

Gleason View

Question 11

Describe Gleason View

Answer 11

Communities are collections of pieces acting independently based on their traits without a predetermined structure or climax state

Question 12

Describe Tansley’s Compromise

Answer 12

Communities are not superorganisms but interactions among organisms and their environment are crucial

Question 13

How do organisms influence non-living environmental factors?

Answer 13

Organisms impact light availability, soil and water chemistry and nutrient cycling.

Question 14

What role do humans play in ecological systems?

Answer 14

Humans alter ecosystems through land use changes, industrialization, pollution and climate change.

Question 15

Energy flows through food chains but declines at each level due to energy loss as heat and metabolism

Answer 15

Lindeman’s Trophic

Question 16

Percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next

Answer 16

Ecological Efficiency

Question 17

Typically only ____ moves from one level to the next

Answer 17

10% energy

Question 18

storage locations for elements like carbon or nitrogen (ex. atmosphere, soil, oceans)

Answer 18

Reservoirs (Pools/Stocks)

Question 19

Movement of elements between reservoirs through processes like respiration, decomposition, and photosynthesis

Answer 19

Fluxes

Question 20

Principle elemental inputs must equal outputs for a ecosystem to remain in steady state

Answer 20

Mass Balance

Question 21

A chemical change in an element for example nitrogen fixation converting N2 to NH4+

Answer 21

Transformation

Question 22

The physical movement of nutrients from one place to another ( A river flow carrying nitrates to the ocean)

Answer 22

Transport

Question 23

Reduces change and maintains equilibrium (population regulation, Stabilizing)

Answer 23

Negative feedback

Question 24

Increases change, leading to instability (climate change effects, Amplifying)

Answer 24

Positive Feedback

Question 25

A proposed geological era where human activities dominate environmental processes

Answer 25

Anthropocene

Question 26

How do human activities impact the carbon cycle?

Answer 26

Burning fossil fuels Deforestation Industrial processes

Question 27

A scientist measures the size of a carbon reservoir and its inputs and outputs. How can they determine if the reservoir is in steady state?

Answer 27

If inputs = outputs, the reservoir is in steady state. If inputs > outputs, the reservoir is increasing. If inputs < outputs, the reservoir is decreasing.

Question 28

Why do CO₂ levels fluctuate seasonally, and how does this vary by hemisphere?

Answer 28

Seasonal fluctuations occur because plants absorb CO₂ during spring/summer (growth season) and release it during fall/winter (decomposition). This effect is stronger in the Northern Hemisphere due to more land-based vegetation.

Question 29

Why does energy flow, but matter cycles, in ecosystems?

Answer 29

Energy flows one way (lost as heat at each trophic level), whereas matter cycles continuously (elements like carbon and nitrogen are reused through biological and geochemical processes).