Definitions

Question 1

Define ecology.

Answer 1

Ecology is the study of the interactions between living things (organisms) and between organisms and their environment

Question 2

Define biosphere.

Answer 2

The biosphere is the part of the planet that contains living organisms

Question 3

Define an ecosystem

Answer 3

An ecosystem is a group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit

Question 4

Define a habitat

Answer 4

A habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives

Question 5

Define a population

Answer 5

A population is all the members of the same species living in an area

Question 6

Define a community

Answer 6

A community is all the different populations in an area

Question 7

Define abiotic factors

Answer 7

Non-living factors

Question 8

Define biotic factors

Answer 8

Living factors

Question 9

Define edaphic factors

Answer 9

Edaphic factors relate to soil

Question 10

Define climatic factors

Answer 10

Weather over a long period of time

Question 11

Define producers

Answer 11

Producers are organisms that carry out photosynthesis

Question 12

Define flora

Answer 12

Flora is all the plants in an ecosystem

Question 13

Define consumers

Answer 13

Consumers are organisms that take in food from another organism

Question 14

Define fauna

Answer 14

Fauna is all the animals in an ecosystem

Question 15

Define decomposers

Answer 15

Decomposers are organisms that feed on dead organic matter

Question 16

Define detritus feeders

Answer 16

Detritus feeders are organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter

Question 17

Define a food chain

Answer 17

A grazing food chain is a sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain

Question 18

Define a trophic level

Answer 18

A feeding stage in a food chain

Question 19

Define a food web

Answer 19

A food web consists of two or more interlinked food chains

Question 20

Define a pyramid of numbers

Answer 20

A pyramid of numbers represents the number of organism at each trophic level (or stage) in a food chain

Question 21

Define a niche

Answer 21

The ecological niche of an organisms is the functional role it plays in the community

Question 22

Define nutrient recycling

Answer 22

Nutrient recycling is the way in which elements such as carbon and nitrogen are exchanged between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem

Question 23

Define nitrogen fixation

Answer 23

The conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-)

Question 24

Define nitrification

Answer 24

The conversion of ammonia and ammonium (NH4+) compounds to nitrite and then to nitrate

Question 25

Define denitrification

Answer 25

Denitrification is the conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas

Question 26

Define pollution

Answer 26

Pollution is any harmful addition to the environment

Question 27

Define pollutants

Answer 27

Pollutants are harmful additions to the environment

Question 28

Define conservation

Answer 28

Conservation is the wise management of the existing natural resources in an ecosystem in order to maintain a wide range of habitats and prevent the death and extinction of organisms