Chapter 4 - Characteristics Of Ecosystems

Question 1

What is Ecology?

Answer 1

The study of how organisms interact with one another and their physical environment

Question 2

What is a population?

Answer 2

A group of organisms of the same species

Question 3

What is a community?

Answer 3

A group of multiple populations

Question 4

What is an Ecotone?

Answer 4

The grey area between two different ecosystems where organisms of both ecosystems interact with one another. There is usually a greater biodiversity in an ecotone than either ecosystem it is made up of

Question 5

What may an ecological niche consist of?

Answer 5

The organisms place in the food chain, the time of day it is active, the things it eats, its habitat, and its breeding area

Question 6

Why are niches important?

Answer 6

Niches in an ecosystem help to reduce competition for territory and resources

Question 7

Why is biodiversity important?

Answer 7

Because in an ecosystem if a predator, for example, loses one source of prey there is likely many others to compensate

Question 8

The more niche oppurtunities in an ecosystem, the _______ the biodiversity

Answer 8

Higher

Question 9

Why may an exotic species thrive in a new environment?

Answer 9

Because usually there is no ways to keep the new species in check and it may multiply lots

Question 10

What is a biome?

Answer 10

A biome is a large stertch of land home to many different ecosystems. They usually have their own dominant species

Question 11

What are Canadas 4 major biomes?

Answer 11

Taiga
Tundra
Deciduous forest
Grassland

Question 12

What is the Taiga Biome like?

Answer 12

Found in every province in Canada
Dominated by Conifer trees
The floor is covered in shade

Question 13

What are Conifers like?

Answer 13

Have needles rather than leaves
Needles have a waxy coating which keeps waterloss to a minimum
Flexible branches and triangular shape allow for the snow to slide off

Question 14

What kind of organisms live in the Taiga Biome?

Answer 14

Grizzly and black bears
Wolverines
Weasels
Owls
Spruce Grouse
White-winged Crossbill
Shrubs
Mosses
Ferns

Question 15

What is the Muskeg Ecosystem?

Answer 15

The Muskeg ecosystem is an ecosystem north of Alberta that has a layer of permafrost covered by swampier grasses where the water drains into
Due to the low temperature, decomposotion is slow making it a fragile eco system

Question 16

What organisms are in the Muskeg ecosystem?

Answer 16

Mosses, lichens, other plants with long roots that can shift
Caribou

Question 17

What organisms do not grow in Muskeg ecosystems?

Answer 17

Fungi, soil bacterias growth are limited due to the low temperature

Question 18

What ecosystem has the most fertile soil? Why?

Answer 18

THe grassland ecosystem
Warm temperatures + short-lived, long-rooted grasses tend to live there and can help with decomposition

Question 19

What is humus?

Answer 19

A rich layer of soil from decayed plant matter

Question 20

How many layers does the grasland ecosystem have? WHat does this effect

Answer 20

Only one. This effects the biodivesrity in the ecosystem, resulting in a less biodiverse ecosystem

Question 21

What kind of producers are in the grasslands?

Answer 21

Rough fescue, wheat grass, and spear grass

Question 22

What organisms are in the grasslands?

Answer 22

Deer, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, yellow-bellied sap-suckers, rattlesnakes

Question 23

What are Deciduous Ecosystems?

Answer 23

An ecotone between Grassland and Taiga ecosystems

Question 24

What kind of trees are in the Deciduous ecosystem? How much water do they need?

Answer 24

Poplar, aspen, balsam
They need less water than a Conifer tree
Can be found near water sources

Question 25

What kind of soil does a deciduous ecosystem have?

Answer 25

Due to the warmer temperatures and precipitation, the soil is very rich

Question 26

What is an Understorey?

Answer 26

Below the canopy layer, usually including shorter trees and shrubs

Question 27

What are abiotic factors in the Taiga ecosystem?

Answer 27

Northern and Central Alberta
Changeable weather
Soil contains some water and can be acidic
Heavy precipitation

Question 28

What are abiotic factors in the Muskeg ecosystem?

Answer 28

Cold temperatures
Short growing season
Permafrost layer
Mid precipitation

Question 29

What are abiotic factors in the Grasslands ecosystem?

Answer 29

Central and Southern Alberta
Extra sunlight and warmer than other ecosystems
Rich, fertile soil
Mid precipitation