Ch. 2 & 3

Question 1

scientific study of all the interrelationships between organisms and their environment

Answer 1

Ecology

Question 2

relatively thin layer of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life

Answer 2

Biosphere

Question 3

any living factor in an organism’s environment

Answer 3

Biotic Factor

Question 4

any nonliving factor in an organism’s environment, such as soil, water temperature, and light availability

Answer 4

Abiotic Factors

Question 5

biological community and all the nonliving factors that affect it

Answer 5

Ecosystem

Question 6

large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities

Answer 6

Biome

Question 7

physical area in which an organism lives

Answer 7

Habitat

Question 8

role, or position, of an organism in its environment

Answer 8

Niche

Question 9

organism that captures energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce its own food; provides the foundation of the food supply for other organisms; also called a producer

Answer 9

Autotroph

Question 10

model that shows many interconnected food chains and pathways in which energy and matter flow through an ecosystem

Answer 10

Food Web

Question 11

organism that cannot make its own food and gets its nutrients and energy requirements by feeding on other organisms; also called a consumer

Answer 11

Heterotroph

Question 12

simplified model that shows a single path for energy flow through an ecosystem

Answer 12

Food Chain

Question 13

group of interacting populations that live in the same geographic area at the same time

Answer 13

Community

Question 14

biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the number, distribution, or reproduction of a population within a community

Answer 14

Limiting Factor

Question 15

atmospheric conditions such as temperature and precipitation at a specific place and time

Answer 15

Weather

Question 16

average weather conditions in a specific area, determined by latitude, elevation, ocean currents, and other factors

Answer 16

Climate

Question 17

water-saturated land area that supports aquatic plants

Answer 17

Wetland

Question 18

distance of a point on Earth’s surface north or south of the equator

Answer 18

Latitude

Question 19

tiny marine or freshwater organisms that serve as a food source for many fish species; often autotrophic

Answer 19

Plankton

Question 20

material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers

Answer 20

Sediment