2.1 - 2.2 Terms and Definitions

Question 1

Term

Answer 1

Definition

Question 2

Abiotic Factor

Answer 2

A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as temperature, sunlight, water, or soil composition.

Question 3

Bioaccumulation

Answer 3

The gradual buildup of substances, like pollutants, in an organism’s tissues over its lifetime.

Question 4

Biomagnification

Answer 4

The increasing concentration of substances, like pollutants, in organisms at higher trophic levels of a food chain.

Question 5

Biosphere

Answer 5

The zone of life on Earth, encompassing all ecosystems and living organisms.

Question 6

Biotic Factor

Answer 6

A living organism that influences another organism in an ecosystem, including competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualism.

Question 7

Carrying Capacity

Answer 7

The maximum population size of a species that a particular environment can sustainably support, given the available resources.

Question 8

Clade

Answer 8

A group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Question 9

Cladogram

Answer 9

A branching diagram that depicts evolutionary relationships among organisms based on shared characteristics.

Question 10

Community

Answer 10

All the interacting populations of different species that live in a common area.

Question 11

Competition

Answer 11

An interaction between organisms or species where they vie for the same limited resources, such as food, water, or territory.

Question 12

Density-Dependent Factor

Answer 12

A factor, often biotic, that influences population growth in proportion to the population’s density, such as disease transmission or competition.

Question 13

Density-Independent Factor

Answer 13

A factor, often abiotic, that affects population growth regardless of population density, such as natural disasters or climate change.

Question 14

Ecological Niche

Answer 14

The specific role and set of conditions a species occupies within an ecosystem, encompassing its interactions with other organisms and the environment.

Question 15

Ecosystem

Answer 15

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, functioning as a unit.

Question 16

Ecosystem Stability

Answer 16

The ability of an ecosystem to resist and recover from disturbances, maintaining its structure and function over time.

Question 17

Exponential Growth (J-Curve)

Answer 17

A pattern of population growth characterized by rapid, unrestricted increase, often seen in populations with abundant resources.

Question 18

Fundamental Niche

Answer 18

The theoretical range of environmental conditions and resources a species could occupy without competition.

Question 19

Interspecific Competition

Answer 19

Competition for resources between members of different species.

Question 20

Intraspecific Competition

Answer 20

Competition for resources among individuals of the same species.

Question 21

Keystone Species

Answer 21

A species that plays a disproportionately large role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem.

Question 22

K-Strategist

Answer 22

Organisms adapted to stable environments, characterized by slower reproduction, longer lifespans, and greater investment in offspring.

Question 23

Limiting Factor

Answer 23

An environmental resource or condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population.

Question 24

Logistic Growth (S-Curve)

Answer 24

A pattern of population growth where the rate of increase slows as the population approaches carrying capacity, resulting in a stabilized population size.

Question 25

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

Answer 25

The maximum amount of a resource that can be harvested sustainably over time, without depleting the resource or harming the ecosystem.

Question 26

Mutualism

Answer 26

A symbiotic relationship between two species where both benefit from the interaction.

Question 27

Parasitism

Answer 27

A symbiotic relationship where one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (host).

Question 28

Population

Answer 28

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

Question 29

Population Density

Answer 29

The number of individuals per unit area.

Question 30

Predation

Answer 30

An interaction where one organism (predator) kills and consumes another organism (prey).

Question 31

R-Strategist

Answer 31

Organisms adapted to unstable or unpredictable environments, characterized by rapid reproduction, short lifespans, and numerous offspring.

Question 32

Realized Niche

Answer 32

The actual range of environmental conditions and resources a species occupies, often smaller than its fundamental niche due to competition.

Question 33

Survivorship Curve

Answer 33

A graph that shows the proportion of individuals surviving at different age ranges within a population, providing insights into life history strategies.

Question 34

Trophic Level

Answer 34

A position in a food chain or food web, representing a group of organisms that share a similar feeding relationship.