Ecology Chapter 1

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

The study of relationships between living organisms and their non-living surroundings

Question 2

What is a open system

Answer 2

Allows energy and matter to enter a systems boundaries

Question 3

What is a closed system

Answer 3

Only allows energy to cross a systems boundaries

Question 4

Open system example

Answer 4

Open frying pan

Question 5

Closed system example

Answer 5

Earth is a closed system as only light energy is allowed to enter

Question 6

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 6

A system that is continuously changing, but is constant due to Components adjusting without disturbing the whole system.

Question 7

What is the biosphere made up of

Answer 7

1. Atmosphere (air)
2. Lithosphere (earth)
   3.hydrosphere (water)

Question 8

Biotic components

Answer 8

Biological/living components in the biosphere

Question 9

Abiotic components

Answer 9

Chemical, geological, physical factors of the biosphere

Question 10

Biotic components example

Answer 10

Animals, plants organisms

Question 11

Abiotic components example

Answer 11

Rocks, dirt, mountains

Question 12

Population

Answer 12

Group of the same species

Question 13

Community

Answer 13

Different populations living together in the same area

Question 14

Ecosystem

Answer 14

Living/non living organisms living in the same area

Question 15

Biome

Answer 15

Large area with certain climate and certain types of living organisms

Question 16

Biodiversity

Answer 16

Number of species in an ecosystem

Question 17

Domino affect

Answer 17

If biodiversity decreases, the entire ecosystem is effected

Question 18

Threats to biodiversity

Answer 18

1. Land usage
2. Invasive species
3. Pollution
4. Climate change

Question 19

What are producers

Answer 19

Organisms that use the suns energy to produce food for themselves
Called autotrophs
Ex. Plants 

Question 20

What are consumers

Answer 20

Organisms that can’t produce their own energy
Called heterotrophs 

Question 21

Herbivore

Answer 21

Animal that only eats plants ex. Rabbits, cows, Caterpillars 

Question 22

Omnivore

Answer 22

Animal that eats both plants and other animals
Ex. Humans, bears 

Question 23

Carnivore

Answer 23

Animal that feeds on other animals
Ex. Tiger, eagle , lion

Question 24

Primary consumer

Answer 24

Organisms that eat plants ex. Insects rabbits etc.

Question 25

Secondary consumer

Answer 25

Organisms that mainly eat herbivores, but can be omnivores or carnivores
Ex. Spiders, frogs insect eaters 

Question 26

Tertiary, consumer

Answer 26

Organisms that eat only the other animals ( true carnivores)
Ex. Lions, polar bears, wolves
Quaternary consumers come after tertiary 

Question 27

Decomposer

Answer 27

Also known as a detritivore 
Organisms that feed on plants/animal waste, including that remains
Ex. Worms, mushrooms, fungi 

Question 28

Indicator species

Answer 28

Organisms, whose presence or absence reflects on a specific environmental change
Ex. Less frogs = more mosquitos =more malaria