1.1 Introduction to Ecosystems

Question 1

gross primary production

Answer 1

total amount of chemical energy produced by autotrophs

Question 2

primary production

Answer 2

the conversion of solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugars during photosynthesis; performed by autotrophs

Question 3

ecosystem

Answer 3

the result of biotic and abiotic interactions that occur in a particular area at the same time

Question 4

symbiosis

Answer 4

“sym”-together, “bio”-living (living together), close, long-term interaction between two species in an ecosystem

Question 5

mutualism

Answer 5

the symbiotic relationship between two species where both receive a benefit that results in an increased chance of survival and reproduction

Question 6

commensalism

Answer 6

species interaction in which one species receives a benefit, and the other species is unaffected by the interaction

Question 7

parasitism

Answer 7

a relationship where one organism (parasite) lives on/inside of another (the host); the parasite receives a benefit, but the host is harmed in the relationship

Question 8

competition

Answer 8

individuals from different species or within the same species struggle to obtain the same limiting resource

Question 9

resource partitioning

Answer 9

species use limiting resource in different ways, places, or at different times to reduce competition

Question 10

limited resource

Answer 10

any resource that constrains a population’s size or could stop a population from growing

Question 11

Interspecific competition (competition between species)

Answer 11

competition between different species when they fight over a shared, limiting resource; results in resource partitioning

Question 12

Intraspecific competition (competition within a single species)

Answer 12

individuals must fight for the same resource that all members of a species need to survive; resulting in a stronger and better-adapted species to its environment