B4.2 Ecological niches

Question 1

Ecological niche

Answer 1

Unique role a species fulfils in an ecosystem (Interactions and environmental conditions)
Species cannot reproduce unless all its niche is fulfilled

Question 2

Autotroph

Answer 2

Organisms that synthesize organic molecules from inorganic ones (photosynthesis)

Question 3

Heterotroph

Answer 3

Organisms that obtain organic molecules from other organisms

Question 4

Mixotroph

Answer 4

Organisms that are not exclusively autotrophic or heterotrophic

Question 5

Obligate aerobe

Answer 5

Organisms that require constant O2 to grow (all animals and plants)

Question 6

Facultative anaerobe

Answer 6

Organisms that use O2 if available (Yeast, some bacteria)

Question 7

Obligate anaerobe

Answer 7

Organisms inhibited or killed by O2 (Methanogenic archaea)

Question 8

Photosynthesis

Answer 8

Biochemical process that occurs in plants where energy from sunlight is used to make organic molecules including sugars and amino acids

Question 9

Holozoic nutrition

Answer 9

Organisms that consume food into the body then digested in specialized organs

Question 10

Herbivore

Answer 10

Organism that eats plants as primary food source

Question 11

Carnivore

Answer 11

Organisms that eat meat

Question 12

Omnivore

Answer 12

Organisms that eat both animal and plant matter

Question 13

Detritivore

Answer 13

Animal that eats dead organic material, detritus

Question 14

Saprotroph

Answer 14

Organism that consumes dead and decaying organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down dead things and absorbs it

Question 15

Facultative mixotroph

Answer 15

Can be entirely autotrophic heterotrophic or both

Question 16

Obligate mixotroph

Answer 16

Must use both nutrition modes to survive

Question 17

Phototroph

Answer 17

Organism that uses light energy to produce organic compounds

Question 18

Chemotroph

Answer 18

Obtains energy by oxidation of inorganic molecules

Question 19

Hominidae genera

Answer 19

Homo, Pongo, Gorilla, Pan

Question 20

Incisors

Answer 20

Sharp edge across top of tooth, cutting and biting through food

Question 21

Canines

Answer 21

Single sharp point, grab and tear food

Question 22

Premolars

Answer 22

Mostly flat surface on top, chewing and grinding food

Question 23

Molars

Answer 23

Broad mostly flat surface, chewing and grinding food

Question 24

Homologous

Answer 24

Derived from same ancestral origins, similar anatomical structures of organisms from different taxa regardless of current function

Question 25

Plant herbivore specificity

Answer 25

When a herbivore only eats certain plants, the plant only has a few species that can feed off it

Question 26

Fundamental niche

Answer 26

Entire set of conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce

Question 27

Realized niche

Answer 27

Set of conditions actually used by a species after interactions with other species have been taken into account