Ecological Terms & Concepts

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment

Question 2

Environment

Answer 2

The sum of all the external factors that affect an organism

Question 3

Biotic Factors

Answer 3

Not alive / Ex : Weather , Competition , Disease

Question 4

Abiotic Factors

Answer 4

Living organisms : Plants / Animals

Question 5

Population

Answer 5

The members of one species in a given area

Question 6

Community

Answer 6

All the living organisms in a given area

Question 7

Ecosystem

Answer 7

Complex of living and non living environmental components interacting and closely interdependent in any fairly stable situation [Ex: roting log, forest, human skin]

Question 8

Producers

Answer 8

Autotrophs - usually green / plants make their own food by photosynthesis / converts light into energy

Question 9

Consumers

Answer 9

Heterotrophs - Rely on food from other sources / usually animals

Question 10

Primary consumers

Answer 10

Herbivores

Question 11

Secondary consumers

Answer 11

Carnivores

Question 12

Omnivores

Answer 12

Eat both

Question 13

Decomposers

Answer 13

Usually bacteria or fungi - break down waste or dead remains / recycle chemicals back into ecosystem

Question 14

Food Chain

Answer 14

Made up of sun producers consumers and decomposers

Question 15

Food Web

Answer 15

Complex of food chains from the sun to producers of various types consumers of various types and decomposers of various types.

Question 16

Ecological Pyramid

Answer 16

At each step in the food chain there are fewer organisms
There are more producers than primary consumers
There are more primary consumers than secondary
At each step energy is converted
At each step energy is lost as heat
Therefore; Fodo chains are short