ecology

Question 1

what is ecology

Answer 1

the study of how organisms react with each other and the environment

Question 2

what are the levels of organization

Answer 2

individual - an individual organism
population - all individuals of the same species in an area
community - all individuals in an area, all living things
ecosystem - community plus non living things
biome - similar ecosystems around the world
biosphere - the whole earth

Question 3

what are the two non symbiotic relationship types

Answer 3

competition where two individuals compete for the same resources
predation where one individual eats another

Question 4

what is symbiosis

Answer 4

close relationships between two species besides predation and competition

Question 5

types of symbiosis

Answer 5

mutualism - both species benefit
commensalism - one species benefits and the other is indifferent
parasitism - one species benefits but the other is harmed

Question 6

what is a trophic level

Answer 6

a layer in the food web/chain, one animal can be on multiple trophic levels in a food web

Question 7

what is a primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, and so on

Answer 7

primary producer produces energy and is at the bottom of the food chain
primary consumers eat primary producers
secondary consumers eat primary consumers and so on

Question 8

what is cooperation

Answer 8

mutualism between two of the same species

Question 9

what are biotic and abiotic factors

Answer 9

biotic factors are the living things that influence an ecosystem
abiotic factors are the non living things that influence an ecosystem

Question 10

what role to decomposers play in a food web

Answer 10

decomposers return energy and nutrients from dead producers and consumers back to the primary producers

Question 11

what are heterotrophs and autotrophs

Answer 11

heterotrophs eat other organisms to produce energy (consumers)
while autotrophs make their own (producers)

Question 12

what is a habitat

Answer 12

a habitat is an area that provides shelter and food

Question 13

what makes two animals part of the same species

Answer 13

if they can successfully reproduce with each other and produce offspring that can also reproduce

Question 14

what is an ecological niche

Answer 14

all the abiotic and biotic factors that influence a species

Question 15

what is a limiting factor

Answer 15

a factor in an ecosystem that limits populations

Question 16

what is carrying capacity

Answer 16

the sustainable limit of an ecosystem for a population

Question 17

what does sustainable mean in ecology

Answer 17

viable over a long period of time while maintaining essential processes

Question 18

what is the j curve / exponential growth / unlimited growth

Answer 18

j curve / exponential growth / unlimited growth - this model occurs when there is no limit on space and resources, allowing for exponential population growth ( J )

Question 19

what is boom and bust

Answer 19

boom and bust - this model occurs when the population grows and strikes a point (e.g. disease) that rapidly reduces population, restarting the cycle ( M )

Question 20

what is the s-curve / logistical growth

Answer 20

this model is often what happens in real life. population grows until it reaches carrying capacity and slows down ( S )

Question 21

what is the tragedy of the commons

Answer 21

the idea that when a group of individuals each exploits a shared resource out of greed/one’s own interest, the resource is depleted and everybody loses

Question 22

what are some examples of global commons

Answer 22

the atmosphere, oceans, outer space, antarctica

Question 23

population growth pyramids

Answer 23

pyramids of population based on age group
more young ppl = growth
similar levels throughout (- very old ppl) = steady
more old / middle aged ppl = decline

Question 24

what are the two types of limiting factors

Answer 24

density dependent: competition (more animals = more comp), predation (more predators = more death), parasites/disease (travel easier with denser population)
density independent: unusual weather, accidents, human activity, natural disasters, seasonal cycles (not related to population density of animals)

Question 25

k selected species vs r selected species

Answer 25

k selected species are often larger and produce low numbers of offspring. long gestation, slow maturation, long life spans. inhabit more stable environments. limited by carrying capacity r selected species are often smaller and produce large amounts of offspring. short gestation, quick maturation, short life spans. thrive in more unstable environments due to quick adaptations to take advantage of resources (though later driven off by more competitive species). limited by biotic potential, how well they can reproduce in peak conditions (i.e. exponential growth)

Question 26

what is ecological succession

Answer 26

slow progression of more complex species begins with bare rocks, lichen, small plants, and grasses (pioneer species) then become more complex, e.g. larger grasses, shrubs, some trees (intermediate species) then final most complex and adaptable species like oak and hickory (climax community, remains in balance until disaster like fire, starts secondary succession)

Question 27

what are ecosystem services and their types

Answer 27

direct and indirect benefits of ecosystems to humans. four types provisioning: obtaining products from ecosystem like food, fresh water, wood, fiber, genetic resources, and medicines regulating: benefits from ecosystem's self regulation like climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, water purification and waste management, pollination or pest control habitat: provide habitats and keep up gene pool cultural: non material stuff like spiritual enrichment, intellectual development, recreation and aesthetic values

Question 28

what are native, introduced, invasive, and endangered species

Answer 28

native are species native to a region introduced species are non native species brought to a place accidentally or on purpose invasive species go beyond their point of introduction and cause environmental or economic damage endangered species are species in danger of extinction

Question 29

what is biodiversity

Answer 29

a diversity in the species that inhabit an area

Question 30

what is the competitive exclusion principle

Answer 30

no two animals can occupy the same niche, can't do the same things or compete for exact same resources one will out compete the other

Question 31

carbon cycle

Answer 31

absorbed from atmosphere by plants and ocean eaten by other animals animals respire or die or combust releasing carbon back into the atmosphere

Question 32

nitrogen cycle

Answer 32

nitrogen fixing bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium nitrifying bacteria turn ammonium into nitrites then into nitrates nitrates used by plants turned back into ammonium by decomposers some nitrates turned to atmospheric nitrogen by dentrifying bacteria legumes have their own nitrogen fixing bacteria

Question 33

phosphorus cycle

Answer 33

phosphates in the soil are taken up by plants, eaten by animals, returned by decomposition some runs off into rivers, used by algae, ate by marine animals, returned into water/ground by decomposition