Ecology Quiz Vocab

Question 1

Study of interactions among and between organisms and their physical environment

Answer 1

Ecology

Question 2

A relationship in which each member is mutually dependent on the others

Answer 2

Interdependence

Question 3

Group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

Answer 3

Species

Question 4

Living things made up of cells

Answer 4

Biotic

Question 5

Non-living things that aren’t made up of cells

Answer 5

Abiotic

Question 6

Organisms that use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches)

Answer 6

Autotrophs/Producers

Question 7

Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and nutrients

Answer 7

Heterotrophs/Consumers

Question 8

Heterotrophs that obtain energy by eating plants

Answer 8

Herbivores

Question 9

Heterotrophs that obtain energy by eating other animals

Answer 9

Carnivores

Question 10

Heterotrophs that obtain energy by eating both plants and animals

Answer 10

Omnivores

Question 11

Heterotrophs that feed on detritus

Answer 11

Detrivores

Question 12

Heterotrophs that feed by chemically breaking down organic matter into detritus

Answer 12

Decomposers

Question 13

Heterotrophs that consume carcasses that have been left by other predators

Answer 13

Scavengers

Question 14

Each step in a food chain or web (determined by how far removed the organism is from the producer)

Answer 14

Trophic Levels

Question 15

Shows the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each level of a food chain or web

Answer 15

Ecological Pyramid

Question 16

Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level

Answer 16

Pyramid of Energy

Question 17

Shows the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Answer 17

Pyramid of Biomass

Question 18

Shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level

Answer 18

Pyramid of Numbers

Question 19

The ability to survive and reproduce under a range of environmental circumstances

Answer 19

Tolerance

Question 20

The general place where an organism lives (determined by tolerance)

Answer 20

Habitat

Question 21

The environment where an organism lives, how it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors in that place

Answer 21

Niche

Question 22

Any necessity of life

Answer 22

Resource

Question 23

Organisms relationship when they compete for the same limited resources in the same place at the same time

Answer 23

Competition

Question 24

No two species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time

Answer 24

Competitive exclusion principle

Question 25

An interaction in which one animal (predator) captures and feeds on another (prey)

Answer 25

Predation

Question 26

An interaction in which one animal (herbivore) feeds on producers (such as plants)

Answer 26

Herbivory

Question 27

A single species that causes dramatic changes in the structure of the community when changes in the population occur

Answer 27

Keystone Species