Ecology Study Guide

Question 1

What is ecology the study of?

Answer 1

Is the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. Produce a web of interdependence.

Question 2

What is homeostasis? Give an example?

Answer 2

Relatively constant internal physical and chemical conditions that organisms maintain. Example: body temperature.

Question 3

What are the three methods used to study ecology?

Answer 3

Observations, Experimentation, and Modeling

Question 4

Give 2 examples of biotic factors in a pond

Answer 4

Algae and frogs

Question 5

Give two examples of abiotic factors in a pond

Answer 5

water and temperature

Question 6

Define predation

Answer 6

One animal (the predator) captures and feeds on another animal (the prey).

Question 7

What is a niche?

Answer 7

The range of physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and the way the species obtains what it needs to survive and reproduce.

Question 8

What is a carnivore?

Answer 8

An organism that mostly eats meat, or the flesh of animals. They are consumers.

Question 9

What is a herbivore?

Answer 9

An animal (herbivore) feeds on producers (plants). It is a consumer.

Question 10

Define competition

Answer 10

When organisms try to obtain the same limited resource, competition is created.

Question 11

What are the 2 types of competition?

Answer 11

Interspecific: Different species compete for the same resources.

Intraspecific: Members of the same species compete for the same resources.

Question 12

What does the competition exclusion principle state?

Answer 12

No two species can occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time. Competition would be created and one species will be better at competing for the resource and the other species would die off.

Question 13

Define symbiosis

Answer 13

A relationship in which two species live closely together.

Question 14

Mutualism

Answer 14

A relationship between two species that mutually benefits both organisms.
Example: Sea Anemone and Clownfish

Question 15

Parasitism

Answer 15

A relationship in which one organism lives inside or on another organism and harms it. One organisms benefits and the other is harmed.
Examples: Tapeworm in intestines, fleas on dogs, leeches

Question 16

Commensalism

Answer 16

A relationship between organisms that benefits one but neither helps nor harms the other.
Example: Barnacles and Whales

Question 17

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Answer 17

Primary succession occurs in an environment without previous life, or a barren habitat. No soil exists. Completely destroyed and empty. Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experienced a disturbance, such as a wildfire. Soil survives. Although most of the ecosystem is destroyed, some parts survive and can begin to regenerate.

Question 18

What would cause primary succession to occur?

Answer 18

Volcano eruption and glaciers.

Question 19

What would cause secondary succession to occur?

Answer 19

Hurricane, wildfire, deforestation.

Question 19

What is an example of a human caused disturbance in the environment?

Answer 19

Deforestation, forest fires, farming/logging

Question 20

What is a pioneer species?

Answer 20

The first species to colonize barren area. Lichen and moss. It breaks down rock and adds organic material to form soil.

Question 21

What will you find in a climax community?

Answer 21

Secondary succession in healthy ecosystems following natural disturbances often returns to the original climax community.
The final stage of succession.
A stable mature community which has reached equilibrium.

Question 22

What is a keystone species?

Answer 22

A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. A keystone species disappearance would start a domino effect and other species in the habitat would also disappear and become extinct.

Question 23

Biosphere

Answer 23

All life on Earth

Question 24

Biology

Answer 24

study of life

Question 25

Characteristics of Life

Answer 25

Living things are made up of cells, Living things are based on an universal genetic code, Living things reproduce , Living things grow and develop, Living things obtain and use materials & energy , Living things respond to their environment,
Living things maintain a stable internal environment
Living things change over time

Question 26

Stimulus

Answer 26

a signal that causes an organism to respond.

Question 27

Sexual reproduction

Answer 27

cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

Question 27

Metabolism

Answer 27

building up or breaking down materials to carry out life processes.

Question 28

Asexual reproduction

Answer 28

one organism can produce identical copies of itself

Question 29

Unicellular

Answer 29

one celled.

Question 30

Multicellular

Answer 30

many celled.

Question 31

Sexual reproduction

Answer 31

blending of parent DNA.

Question 32

DNA(Heredity)

Answer 32

Deoxyribonucleic Acid.

Question 33

Asexual reproduction

Answer 33

“clone” of parent.

Question 34

Levels of Organization

Answer 34

Individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere