Ecology Test Flashcards
in ecosystems where there is no sun, how does the ecosystem get energy?
bacteria break down inorganic molecules to get the energy-
chemosynthesis
how much percent of the organisms life energy will be passed on to whatever organism consumes it?
10%
what is a straight path in which energy (as food) that is passed through an ecosystem?
food chain
what do you call an organism that eats small broken down particles of dead animals and plants known as detritus?
detritivores
what is the biological process?
eating, breathing, ect.
what are geological processes?
volcanoes, rock erosion, ect.
what are chemical and physical processes?
cloud formation, water dissolving, lightning, ect.
how do humans interfere the carbon cycle?
burning fossil fuels, burning wood, cutting down forests, ect
how do humans interfere the nitrogen cycle?
over application of fertilizer causing algae blooms= die and rot. Eutrophication
what cycle has no atmosphere component?
Phosphorus Cycle
what is the over application of fertilizers?
eutrophication
what do you call members of the same species trying to use the same resource?
intraspecific
what do you call members of different species trying to use the same resource?
interspecific
what does the competitive exclusion principle state?
no two species shall occupy the same niche at the same time in the same location
what are the four relationships between organisms?
competition
predation
keystone species
symbiosis
what are three examples of symbiosis?
mutualism
parasitism
commensalism
what is a relationship where both organisms benefit from the relationship? (++)
mutualism
what is a relationship where one benefits and one is harmed? (+-)
parasitism
what is a relationship where one benefits and the other is neutral (not harmed nor helped)
commensalism
what may cause primary succession?
volcanic lava flow
what do you call an ecosystem that must start on the surface without soil?
primary succession
what do you call an ecosystem that starts on a surface where soil does exist?
secondary succession
what may cause secondary succession to occur?
forest fire, hurricane, flood, ect
what four ways can you describe populations by?
geographic range
density
growth rate
age structure
what is the number of males/females of various ages?
age structures
what four ways may a population be affected?
birth rate
death rate
immigration
emigration
under ideal conditions (with unlimited resources), what letter shape will the population curve look like?
a J curve
what is the normal growth pattern for a population size?
an S curve
what do you call something controls the growth and size of a population
limiting factor
what is an example of density independent factors?
forest fires
what is the order of the environmental levels of organization?
species population community ecosystem biome biosphere
what is a way to remember the environmental levels of organization? (SPCEBB)
Some People Can't Even Busta' Ball
what are small aquatic heterotrophs?
Zooplankton
