Ecology Flashcards
Ecological Organization
organism, species, population, Biological Community, ecosystem, biome, Biosphere.
The lowest level of organization is the organisms itself. A species is a group of individuals so similar they can reproduce, creating fertile offspring. Organisms of a single species that share the same geographic location at the same time make up a population. A Biological community is a group of interaction populations that occupy the same geographical area at the same time. An ecosystem is a biological community and all of the abiotic factors that affect it. A biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities. A Biosphere is the highest level- all ecosystems on earth.
Identify different trophic levels in a food chain/food web (producers, different types of consumers, and decomposers):
Producers- organisms that collect energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce food. Consumers- organisms that gets its energy by consuming other organisms ms- Herbivores (eat only plants), Carnivores (eat only aniamls), Omnivores (eat plants or animals), Scavenger (animals that eat dead animals), decomposers (break down organic matter), detrivore (eat fragments of dead matter, so shutters reused by organisms).
How does the amount of energy or biomass change as you go up the food chain or ecological pyramid?:
Only 10% of the energy (or mass) available in one trophic level is passed onto the next level.
What are some factors that affect population size?:
Factors that affect populations size including the population’s geographic range (places they live), growth rate (increasing, decreasing, or stable), Density and Distribution (population Density the number of individuals that can be found per unit area)(Population Distribution- how individuals are spaced out across their range), and age structure (ages and whether male or female).
How do limiting factors affect population growth?:
A limiting factor is any factor that controls the growth of population. There are density dependent limiting factors such as competition, stress from overcrowding, parasitism, disease, predation and herbivory. There are also density independent limiting factors such as environmental extremes, including weather extremes such as hurricanes, droughts, floods, or natural disasters such as wildfires.
What are some limiting factors that can affect carrying capacity?:
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that a particular environment can support. If a carrying capacity falls low enough, populations can become extinct. A population will stop growing when a population’s birth and death rate are the same and when immigration equals emigration.
Define and give examples of each of the three types of symbiotic relationships.:
A symbiotic relationship is the close relationship that exists when two or more species live together. Mutualism- both benefit ex. Clownfish and sea anemone. Commensalism- one benefits, other is neither helped nor harmed. Ex. barnacles growing on whales. Parasitism- one benefits, en is harmed ex. ticks , tapeworms.
How can humans decrease their ecological footprint?
We can decrease our ecological footprint by not using as many greenhouse gasses. Meaning not riding in cars as often and riding your bike or taking public transportation to work or school. In addition or not using as much plastic, and instead using reusable things because plastic takes a very long time to decompose.
How do invasive species change an ecosystem?:
They can cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health. Nonnative species can outcompete native species for resources and habitats, they can drive native species to extinction.
What causes the greenhouse effect?:
Some carbon dioxide causes a Greenhouse effect- trapping some heat.
What are the causes of global warming?:
Higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, trap more heat in the biosphere and cause global warming, which drives climate change.
How are humans causing global warming?:
Humans use Fossil Fuels which are non renewable energy sources- when used they are converted to gas. It takes millions of years to generate fossil fuels. The release of carbon dioxide happens when using fossil fuels and this causes/ creates greenhouse gases.
Carbon cycle – cycling of carbon and oxygen – photosynthesis/respiration:
The process that moves carbon between plants, animals, and microbes: minerals in the earth, and the atmosphere. Carbon makes life on earth possible.
