Ecology & Environment (Ch 30)

Question 1

What is ecology

Answer 1

Studies the relationship and interactions between organisms and its environment

Question 2

2 categories of environment

Answer 2

1. Biotic (living things that affect organism; animals, plants, fungi, bacteria)
2. Abiotic (non living; water, temp, light, soil)

Question 3

What is organism

Answer 3

Individual living unit

Question 4

what is population

Answer 4

Groups of organisms of same species

Question 5

What is communities

Answer 5

interactions groups of populations of different species

Question 6

What is ecosystem

Answer 6

all interacting organisms in a given area + their interactions w/ abiotic surroundings

Question 7

What is biosphere

Answer 7

sum total of living things on Earth and areas they inhabit

Question 8

What is species

Answer 8

group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

Question 9

6 characteristics of ecosystems

Answer 9

1. biotic (living) and abiotic parts (non-living)
2. Energy flows through ecosystems (food chain)
3. Matter is recycled in ecosystems (carbon, cycle, nitrogen cycle)
4. Every organism occupies an ecological niche
5. Ecosystems are dynamic (change over time)
6. Ecosystems maintain homeostasis

Question 10

Habitat and niche differences

Answer 10

Habitat = natural home
Niche (role) = reflects organisms use of resources and functional role in community

Question 11

3 types of energy relationships

Answer 11

1. Producers
2. Consumers
3. Decomposers

Question 12

Producers meaning and examples

Answer 12

1. organisms creating own energy through photosynthesis
2. Uses photosynthesis
3. Produces contain green plants + photosynthetic algae and Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic organisms)

Question 13

Photosynthesis

Answer 13

energy from sun is converted into energy stored within chemical bonds

Question 14

What are consumers and examples

Answer 14

require energy from other organisms

Ex: animals- eat plant directly, indirectly, consuming another consumer
Insect, birds, other animals

Question 15

Decomposers and its examples

Answer 15

organism uses dead organisms for energy

Ex: bacteria + fungi
Convert organic matter into simple inorganic molecules that can be used by producers in photosynthesis

Question 16

What is food chain and trophic levels

Answer 16

Food chain = sequence of feeding

Trophic levels = step in the flow of energy through ecosystem

Question 17

4 levels of trophic levels

Answer 17

1st = producers
2nd = herbivores
3rd = carnivore = feed on herbivores
4th = carnivore = feed on primary carnivores

Question 18

1st level = producers

Answer 18

photosynthetic and receiver energy from sun

Question 19

2nd level = herbivore

Answer 19

Eat plants

Question 20

4 steps of carbon cycle

Answer 20

1. carbon is produced as CO2 by organisms carrying out cellular respiration
2. Carbon is taken up as CO2 by plants carrying out photosynthesis
3. Carbon flows through the food chain as consumers eat
4. Decomposers break down decaying matter + return carbon to soil nutrients

Question 21

4 steps of nitrogen cycle

Answer 21

1. nitrogen is taken in from atmosphere by nitrogen fixing bacteria (make it in a form plants can use)
2. Nitrogen from soil is incorporated into plants as they grow + flows through the food chain as consumers eat
3. Decomposers break down decaying material + return nitrogen to soil nutrients
4. Some nitrogen returns to the atmosphere when converted by bacteria

Question 22

4 ways to explain energy flow

Answer 22

=passage of energy within ecosystem
=Energy is lost passing through each trophic level (90%)
=Loss of energy happens as heat
Thus, there are fewer consumers than producers

Question 23

5 types of organism interactions

Answer 23

Predation
Parasitism
Commensalism
Mutualism
Competition

Question 24

What is predation

Answer 24

Predator vs. Prey relationship
Predator benefits, prey is killed
Spiders, hawks, owls lions

Question 25

What is parasitism

Answer 25

Parasite vs. Host relationship
Parasite benefits, host is harmed
External parasites; Fleas, mosquitoes, leeches
Internal parasites; bacteria, virus, tapeworms

Question 26

What is commensalism

Answer 26

One organism benefits, the other is not affected

Cattle egrets + cows
Sharks and remora
Epiphyte
Whales and barnacles

Question 27

What is mutualism (symbiotic)

Answer 27

both organism benefit

Cow + microorganisms living in their digestive tract
Flowers + insect

Question 28

What is ruminants

Answer 28

Type of animals

herbivorous diet
Have special microorganisms in their gut to help them digest cellulose

Question 29

What is competition

Answer 29

both organisms are harmed

Intraspecific competition: b/w same species
Interspecific competition: b/w diff species

Question 30

lake Victoria disaster

Answer 30

Nile Perch by sport fishermen caused decrease in fish population

Growth of algae and parasite eating snails

Soil erosion at shore of lake

Deforestation (perch must be smoked to eat)

Question 31

Symbiosis

Answer 31

Any association between two species populations that live together

species benefit, harm, or have no effect on one another.