Ecology

Question 1

Define Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the environment and the organisms that interact with it.

Question 2

Differentiate between biotic and abiotic factors in an environment.

Answer 2

Abiotic factors are non-living. Biotic factors are living.

Question 3

Differentiate between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition.

Answer 3

Intraspecific is between organisms of the same species. Interspecific is between organisms of different species.

Question 4

State the two most important factors in the determination of terrestrial biomes.

Answer 4

Climate and the amount of rainfall

Question 5

Define population, community, ecosystem and biosphere.

Answer 5

A population is a localized group of individuals of a species. A community is a bunch of different organisms living together in the same area. An ecosystem is all of the biotic and abiotic factors in an area. The biosphere is the global ecosystem.

Question 6

Compare producers, consumers (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore) and decomposers.

Answer 6

Producers make their own energy. Consumers get their energy from eating other organisms. Decomposers obtain their energy by breaking down dead organisms.

Question 7

Explain the ten percent rule of ecology.

Answer 7

When an organism consumes another, ten percent of its energy and nutrients are passed on.

Question 8

Explain feeding relationships in an ecosystem & give an example of a simple food chain.

Answer 8

Producers make their own food. Primary consumers eat producers. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers, etc. Decomposers break down dead organisms in order to obtain nutrients.

Question 9

Explain the cycles in an ecosystem using reservoir, assimilation and release.

Answer 9

The reservoir is where the substance is kept. Assimilation is when the substance moves from the abiotic “world” into the biotic “world.” Release is when the substance moves back to the abiotic “world.”

Question 10

Explain the carbon cycle.

Answer 10

Carbon starts in the reservoir as CO2 in the atmosphere. It gets assimilated into the biotic “world” when plants go through photosynthesis and when animals ingest it. It gets released into the abiotic “world” when the organisms respires the carbon.

Question 11

Discuss the importance of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle.

Answer 11

Bacteria turns nitrogen into a usable substance, while other bacteria can change it back.

Question 12

Discuss types of population distribution including clumped, uniform and random.

Answer 12

A clumped population distribution is when groups of the population live together in little groups. Uniformed population is when the population is evenly spread out through out the habitat. A random population distribution is when there’s no pattern.

Question 13

State the factors that influence population growth.

Answer 13

Population size, rate of increase, and the carrying capacity.

Question 14

Compare density dependent and density independent limiting factors.

Answer 14

Density dependent limiting factors can change if the population density changes. Density independent limiting factors always stay constant.

Question 15

Describe human population growth.

Answer 15

Humans right now seem to be growing exponentially.

Question 16

Differentiate between logistic and exponential growth.

Answer 16

Logistic growth caps the population size at the carrying capacity. Exponential growth can’t be capped.

Question 17

Define carrying capacity.

Answer 17

The maximum number of species that a habitat can maintain.

Question 18

Explain and identify different types of species interactions, including: predation, competition,
parasitism, mutualism, & commensalism.

Answer 18

Predation is when one organism hunts another for food. Competition is when two organisms compete for the same limited resource. Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship when both organisms benefit. Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits and the other isn’t affected.

Question 19

Explain both primary and secondary ecological succession.

Answer 19

Primary succession is when an area in overrun and nothing remains. Secondary succession is when an area is overrun and all that remains is the soil.

Question 20

Explain the three survivorship curves and give an example of each.

Answer 20

A Type I survivorship curve is when there are high mortality rates later in life, and lower rates in the beginning. An example would be a human. A Type II survivorship curve is when there are equal chances of dying at all ages. An example would be a squirrel. A Type III survivorship curve is when there are high mortality rates in the beginning of life, but the chances of dying after surviving childhood is slim-to-none. An example would be the turtle.

Question 21

Compare the fundamental niche and realized niche of organisms.

Answer 21

The fundamental niche is the biotic and abiotic factors that the organism exists with. The realized niche is the part of the niche that if affected by other organisms, such as predators and competitors.