Ecology Flashcards
Abiotic Factor
a non-living thing in the environment (wind, sunlight, water)
Biotic Factor
a living thing in the environment (tree, bird, bacteria)
Secondary Succession
when an ecosystem is destroyed by a natural disaster but the soil remains in tact
Greenhouse Effect
a layer of gases surround the Earth that allows life occur on Earth
Parasitism
a relationship in which one organism benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host)
Density Dependent Factor
factors that affect large populations (crowding, competition, predation, disease)
Carbon Cycle
the movement of carbon through the ecosystem
Invasive Species
an organism that is not native to an ecosystem and does not have any native predators (usually bad for the ecosystem)
Commensalism
a relationship where one organism benefits but the other is not affected
Density Independent Factor
factors that affect the population regardless of the population size (natural disaster, temperature change)
Primary Succession
when rock is converted into sediment over a long period of time to create an ecosystem
Mutualism
a relationship between organisms in which they both benefit from the relationship
Ecology
the study of relationships between organisms
A population of foxes live in the woods. Their population is reaching the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. What type of limiting factor affects large populations?
density dependent
A symbiotic relationship means
one or both parties benefit
Which of the following is most likely a climax community?
forest land that has just been cleared out
If human civilization had never started burning fossil fuels, would there be a greenhouse effect?
Yes, the greenhouse effect is caused by naturally occurring gases
A small farming community in Texas covers 14 square kilometers. There are 420 individuals who live within the town limits. What is the population density of individuals in this community?
30
An ecosystem has a stable population of white tailed deer. What is the most likely outcome if a new species of deer that competed for the same resources were introduced?
the producer population would decrease
A farmer stips cultivating a large tract of farmland and abandons it. The natural changes taking place soon afterwards, such as the growth of wild grasses and weeds, can be considered
secondary succession because there is already soil present
By what process is CO2 removed from the atmosphere?
photosynthesis
A species of Great Blue Heron feeds on small fish in a freshwater ecosystem. What would be the most direct result of a sudden decrease in the Great Blue Heron population
the fish population would increase
As industry continues to grow and new construction takes place, what will happen to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time?
increase
Man-of-war fish cluster around the venomous tentacles of jellyfish to escape larger predators. The presence of the man-of-war fish does not harm or benefit the jellyfish. This type of relationship is
commensalism
Which of the following most likely would be a part of the first community on a newly formed volcanic island?
lichens
