Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

All relationships between organisms of a given area and their interactions with the abiotic environment

Question 2

Ecotones

Answer 2

Edges or transitional zones of ecosystems

Question 3

Biomes

Answer 3

Large areas defined by climate conditions and characteristic vegetation
Plants and animals display adaptations to the prevailing climate within biomes

Question 4

What is the major factor determining growth in biomes?

Answer 4

Climate (Rainfall and Temperature control Biology)

Question 5

Energy and Nutrient Flow

Answer 5

Starts with solar energy being fixated by Auttrophs using photosynthesis
Primary production flows through heterotrophs to secondary production. This energy is consumed by maintenance, growth and reproduction

Question 6

Ecologicial Efficiency

Answer 6

Ratio of energy flow from one tropic level to the next

Question 7

Consumer Efficiency

Answer 7

Ability for consumer organisms to transform energy into secondary production (growth and reproduction)

Question 8

Inputs

Answer 8

Exchanges from the surrounding environment into the ecosystem

Question 9

Outputs

Answer 9

Exchanges from inside the ecosystem to the surrounding environment

Question 10

Closed ecosystem

Answer 10

Minimal exchange with the surrounding environment, must contain at least one autotroph

Question 11

Open ecosystem

Answer 11

Significant exchange from the surrounding environment (most)

Question 12

Feedback

Answer 12

Output of one system process affects the process of another

Question 13

Positive Feedback

Answer 13

Results in the continued amplification of a process

dry conditions increase severity for forest fire, population growth

Question 14

Negative Feedback

Answer 14

Results in a dampening or reversal of a process

predator-prey relationship

Question 15

Resistance stability

Answer 15

Ability to remain the same during disturbance

Question 16

Resilience Stability

Answer 16

Ability to re-establish after disturbance

Question 17

Biodiversity

Answer 17

Ecosystem trait that affects its stability and function.

Measure of variety of organisms in an ecosystem

Question 18

Regional Diversity

Answer 18

Variation in diversity among regional ecosystems

Question 19

Alpha Diversity

Answer 19

Local variation in species composition

Question 20

Beta Diversity

Answer 20

Variation in diversity among ecosystems in a region (different species seen between regions)

Question 21

Gamma Diversity

Answer 21

Total landscape or regional diversity (total number of species)

Question 22

Biogeochemical Cycle

Answer 22

Cycling of chemical substances through a pathway involving biotic and abiotic components

Question 23

Types of Biogeochemical Cycles

Answer 23

Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Phosphorous