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Ec Flashcards

1
Q

What is ecology?

A

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

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2
Q

True or False: Aquatic ecosystems only include saltwater environments.

A

False

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3
Q

Fill in the blank: The two main types of ecosystems are __________ and __________.

A

terrestrial, aquatic

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4
Q

What is a biome?

A

A biome is a large geographical area characterized by specific climate conditions and distinct plant and animal communities.

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5
Q

Which of the following is a freshwater ecosystem? A) Ocean B) Lake C) Coral Reef

A

B) Lake

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6
Q

Define ‘habitat’.

A

A habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives.

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7
Q

True or False: Producers are organisms that can make their own food.

A

True

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8
Q

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

A

The sun

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: Organisms that eat producers are called __________.

A

herbivores

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10
Q

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

A

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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11
Q

Which of the following is a characteristic of wetlands? A) High salinity B) Waterlogged soil C) Desert conditions

A

B) Waterlogged soil

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12
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

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13
Q

True or False: All living organisms in an ecosystem are interdependent.

A

True

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14
Q

What is a food chain?

A

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

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15
Q

Fill in the blank: The process by which plants convert sunlight into energy is called __________.

A

photosynthesis

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16
Q

What is an apex predator?

A

An apex predator is a predator at the top of a food chain with no natural predators.

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17
Q

Which type of ecosystem is characterized by high rainfall and diverse species? A) Desert B) Tropical rainforest C) Tundra

A

B) Tropical rainforest

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18
Q

Define ‘niche’.

A

A niche is the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

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19
Q

True or False: Invasive species can disrupt local ecosystems.

A

True

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20
Q

What is the water cycle?

A

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

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21
Q

Fill in the blank: __________ is the gradual change in species composition in an ecosystem over time.

A

Succession

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22
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

A

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has cleared an ecosystem but left the soil intact.

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23
Q

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a desert biome? A) Low rainfall B) High temperatures C) Dense vegetation

A

C) Dense vegetation

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24
Q

What is a keystone species?

A

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance.

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25
Q

True or False: Ecosystems can be affected by human activities.

A

True

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26
Q

What is the significance of coral reefs in aquatic ecosystems?

A

Coral reefs provide habitat and shelter for many marine organisms, and they are vital for biodiversity.

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27
Q

Fill in the blank: The __________ zone of a lake is where sunlight penetrates and supports photosynthesis.

A

littoral

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28
Q

What is ecology?

A

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

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29
Q

What is the primary focus of genetics?

A

The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

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30
Q

Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

A

Charles Darwin.

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31
Q

What is the role of climate in ecology?

A

Climate affects the distribution and behavior of organisms.

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32
Q

What is the main component of the water cycle?

A

Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

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33
Q

Fill in the blank: The _____ level of a trophic pyramid represents producers.

A

Base

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34
Q

True or False: Genetic variation is important for natural selection.

A

True.

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35
Q

What is a keystone species?

A

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

36
Q

What are the four main types of ecosystems?

A

Terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and artificial.

37
Q

What does the term ‘biodiversity’ refer to?

A

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

38
Q

What is genetic drift?

A

A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

39
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a component of natural selection? A) Variation B) Inheritance C) Randomness D) Differential survival

A

C) Randomness.

40
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The warming of the Earth’s surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases.

41
Q

Fill in the blank: The _____ is the part of the Earth where life exists.

A

Biosphere

42
Q

What is the significance of a genetic mutation?

A

It can introduce new traits that may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

43
Q

True or False: All ecosystems have the same trophic structure.

A

False.

44
Q

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

A

The sun.

45
Q

What is a population in ecological terms?

A

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

46
Q

Define ‘carrying capacity’.

A

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably.

47
Q

What are abiotic factors?

A

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

48
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor? A) Temperature B) Water C) Plants D) Soil

A

C) Plants.

49
Q

What is the primary function of chlorophyll in plants?

A

To absorb light energy for photosynthesis.

50
Q

Fill in the blank: The process by which species adapt to their environment over generations is called _____

A

Evolution

51
Q

True or False: Evolution occurs at the level of individuals.

A

False.

52
Q

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

A

A food chain shows a linear sequence of energy transfer, while a food web shows interconnected food chains.

53
Q

What are trophic levels?

A

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.

54
Q

Who is known for the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’?

A

Herbert Spencer.

55
Q

What is an ecological niche?

A

The role and position a species has in its environment.

56
Q

What does ‘symbiosis’ mean?

A

A close and often long-term interaction between two different biological species.

57
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a type of symbiotic relationship? A) Mutualism B) Commensalism C) Parasitism D) All of the above

A

D) All of the above.

58
Q

What is the main impact of climate change on ecosystems?

A

It alters habitats and affects species distribution and survival.

59
Q

Define ‘natural selection’.

A

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

60
Q

What is an example of a density-dependent factor?

A

Food availability.

61
Q

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

A

They break down dead organic material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

62
Q

Fill in the blank: The _____ hypothesis suggests that species evolve in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.

A

Punctuated equilibrium

63
Q

What is a habitat?

A

The natural home or environment of an organism.

64
Q

True or False: Climate refers only to short-term weather patterns.

A

False.

65
Q

What is the significance of the trophic cascade?

A

It describes how changes in one trophic level can influence multiple levels above and below it.

66
Q

What is the primary cause of ocean acidification?

A

Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

67
Q

What defines a biome?

A

A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

68
Q

Fill in the blank: In genetics, an organism’s observable traits are referred to as its _____

A

Phenotype

69
Q

What is the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

A

It provides a baseline for studying genetic variation in populations under ideal conditions.

70
Q

What is a primary producer?

A

An organism that can produce its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

71
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a greenhouse gas? A) Oxygen B) Nitrogen C) Carbon Dioxide D) Hydrogen

A

C) Carbon Dioxide.

72
Q

What is the primary purpose of conservation biology?

A

To protect species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction.

73
Q

What is a genetic allele?

A

A variant form of a gene.

74
Q

True or False: All mutations are harmful to an organism.

A

False.

75
Q

What is the significance of the Galápagos Islands in the study of evolution?

A

They were instrumental in Charles Darwin’s formulation of his theory of natural selection.

76
Q

What is a biome characterized by very low temperatures and limited vegetation?

A

Tundra.

77
Q

Fill in the blank: The _____ cycle describes the movement of water through the environment.

A

Hydrologic

78
Q

What is the main consequence of deforestation on climate?

A

Increased carbon dioxide levels and disrupted local climates.

79
Q

What is an invasive species?

A

A non-native species that spreads widely in a new habitat, often causing harm to native species.

80
Q

What is the role of the ozone layer?

A

To protect the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

81
Q

True or False: Ecosystems can be both natural and artificial.

A

True.

82
Q

What is the process of photosynthesis?

A

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

83
Q

What is the main purpose of pollinators in an ecosystem?

A

To facilitate the reproduction of flowering plants.

84
Q

Define ‘ecosystem services’.

A

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

85
Q

Multiple Choice: Which trophic level is primarily composed of herbivores? A) Primary producers B) Primary consumers C) Secondary consumers D) Tertiary consumers

A

B) Primary consumers.

86
Q

What is the significance of genetic diversity?

A

It increases a population’s ability to adapt to changing environments.

87
Q

What does ‘biomagnification’ refer to?

A

The increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms at each successive trophic level.

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