ecology and ecosystem

Question 1

ecology meaning

Answer 1

is the study of the relationship between living organisms and their physical environment.

Question 2

ecosystem meaning

Answer 2

(ecological system) consists of community of organisms and non living art of the environment (air, soil, water, light..). interaction between orgainsms living together in a certain environment.

Question 3

biome meaning

Answer 3

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

Question 4

biosphere meaning

Answer 4

the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms.

Question 5

examples of biomes

Answer 5

desert, tropical rainforest, taiga, freshwater, marine, savannah

Question 6

species meaning

Answer 6

a group of living organims consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

Question 7

population meaning

Answer 7

a group of organism of one species living and interacting in the same area at the same time. Population always refers to a single species.

Question 8

community meaning

Answer 8

All of the populations of all different species in an ecosystem.

Question 9

habitat meaning

Answer 9

The place where the organisms live.

Question 10

Distribution meaning

Answer 10

Distribution refers to where different species or populations are found and how are they spread out in the particular area.

Question 11

What influences distribution?

Answer 11

Climate, geography, food avaliability/limitation, and interactions with other species.

Question 12

types of distribution

Answer 12

1.)Uniform dispersion
2.)Random dispersion
3.)Clumped dispersion

Question 13

Explain clumped dispersion

Answer 13

Individuals of a species are clustered together in groups. this is usually because there is food, water and shelter might be found in patches.

Question 14

Explain uniform dispersion

Answer 14

Individuals are evenly spaced out across an area. this often happens when there is competiition for resources or territorial behaviour.

Question 15

Explain random dispersion

Answer 15

Quite rare, individuals are scattered without any pattern. almost as if they are randomly placed in the environment. they dont follow any specific arrangement.

Question 16

Keystone species meaning

Answer 16

Is n organism that helps define an entire ecosystm. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different.

Question 17

example of keystone species+their importance to ecosystem

Answer 17

1.) shark- eats prey and prevents over population
2.) sea otter- they eat sea urchins, which eat kelp (sea plant/seaweed). without sea otters, sea urchins would overeat the kelp, and damage the balance of marine ecosystem since kelp provides habitat for multiple marine species.

Question 18

what causes population growth?

Answer 18

population growth is caused by when birth rate exceeds death rate.

Question 19

what factors affect population growth?

Answer 19

Biotic:
- food supply (limited)
-cempetition (what do tehy compete for?)
-predetor-prey relationship
- disease
Abiotic:
-rainfall
-light intensity
-temperature

Question 20

why is the max. population size limited?

Answer 20

Environmental factors like food, shelter, water, and mates need to be met, the population will decrease until the resource rebounds.

Question 21

what is carrying capacity?

Answer 21

the max. number of organism in the population that can be supported by an ecosystem.

Question 22

4 phases of population growth curve

Answer 22

1.) Lag phase- slow growth
2.) exponential (log) phase- rapid increase in number
3.) stationary phase-size of the population stays the same
4.) death phase- population numbers drop

Question 23

explain lichen

Answer 23

it is composed of two partner organisms
1.) heterophic partner; fungus
2.) autotrophic partner-algae or cyanobacteria
fungus provides water, minerals, gives the shape, attachement to surface and offers protection from drought. algae or cyanobacteria provides pigment and organic molecules from photosynthesis.

Question 24

what is a parasite

Answer 24

is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its foof from or at the expense of its host.

Question 25

intracellular parasite

Answer 25

organisms that lives in your cells for their own benefit, which can harm you

Question 26

endoparasites

Answer 26

parasites living INside your body

Question 27

difference between endoparasites and intracellular parasite

Answer 27

intracellular parasites live in your cells, whereas endoparasites can vary location from your organs, to tissues, etc.

Question 28

ectoparasites

Answer 28

live ON a host

Question 29

examples of endoparasites

Answer 29

liver fluke, tapeworm, nematodes

Question 30

examples of ectoparasites

Answer 30

fleas, lice, leeches, ticks

Question 31

what is mimicry

Answer 31

Mimicry is when an organism looks or acts like another thing to fool or blend in with its surroundings. either to avoid being eaten or to sneak up on prey.

Question 32

plasmodium-life cycle explain

Question 33

ecological niche

Answer 33

An ecological niche is like a job or a role that a plant or animal has in its environment. It’s all about what it does, where it lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with other living things.

Question 34

reproductive strategies for r-adapted species

Answer 34

short life, rapid growth, early maturity, many small offspring, little parental care, niche generalist, prey, low trophic level.

Question 35

reproductive strategies for k-adapted species

Answer 35

long life, slower growth, late maturity, fewer larger offspring, high parental care and protection, niche specialists, predetors, high tropic level.

Question 36

examples of r-selected species

Answer 36

fish, rat, musquito, insects

Question 37

examples of k-selected species

Answer 37

whale, kangaroo, bear, elephand, chimpanzee, humans