Evolution

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

the process by which organisms have changed over time from simple, single-celled organisms to multicellular, complex organisms.

Question 2

Natural Selection

Answer 2

Nature selects those individuals who are best fit for the environment.

Question 3

Overproduction

Answer 3

more offspring are produced than can survive

Question 4

Competition

Answer 4

The fight for limited resources

Question 5

Variation

Answer 5

Differences among organisms in a species (sexually reproducing organisms have more variation than asexually reproducing organisms)

Question 6

Extinction

Answer 6

The disappearance of an entire species caused by a failure to adapt to a changing environment. Extinction occurs when the Environment changes and the Species cannot adapt.

Question 7

Ecology

Answer 7

The study of how organisms interact with the living and nonliving things

Question 8

Biotic factors:

Answer 8

Living parts of the ecosystem. Example: Plants and animals.

Question 9

Abiotic factors:

Answer 9

non-living parts of the environment (rocks, air, pH, sunlight

Question 10

Niche

Answer 10

A species’ role in it’s environment (it’s JOB and what it EATS)

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

All the organisms of a species that live in the same area.

Question 12

Community

Answer 12

All the different populations in an area.

Question 13

Biosphere:

Answer 13

All of earth’s ecosystems

Question 14

Competition

Answer 14

The struggle for resources among organisms

Question 15

Limiting Factors

Answer 15

Are the living and non living things in the environment that limit the size of populations.
Examples: Food, Shelter, Sun, Space, Oxygen, ETC.

Question 16

Carrying Capacity

Answer 16

the maximum population (number of organisms of any species) that an ecosystem can support.

Question 17

Predators

Answer 17

Kill and eat other organisms called Prey

Question 18

(Feeding Relationships)

Autotrophs

Answer 18

(producers) make their own food by photosynthesis

Question 19

(Feeding Relationships)

Heterotrophs

Answer 19

must eat something for food (consumers)

Question 20

(Feeding Relationships)

Herbivores

Answer 20

can only eat plants

Question 21

(Feeding Relationships)

Carnivores

Answer 21

Can only eat animals.

Question 22

(Feeding Relationships)

Omnivores

Answer 22

Can eat plants and animals

Question 23

(Feeding Relationships)

Decomposers

Answer 23

Break organisms down and return nutrients to the soil. They are the recyclers in the ecosystem.

Question 24

(Feeding Relationships)

Scavenger

Answer 24

Eat dead organisms that they did not kill themselves example: vultures

Question 25

(Feeding Relationships)

Parasites

Answer 25

live off of another organism (host) and do not kill them usually (the parasite benefits, the host is harmed)

Question 26

Food Chain

Answer 26

Is diagram of the linear feeding relationship of organisms in an ecosystem.
Rules in Drawing a Food Chain:
1. All food chains begin with a Producer (Autotroph or Plant)
2. All food chains end with a Decomposer
3. Arrows in a food chain show the direction of the energy flow
Grass -> Grasshopper -> Frog -> Snake -> Hawk -> Decomposer

Question 27

Food Web

Answer 27

A diagram composed of many interlocking food chains. It is more accurate than a food chain because most organisms eat more than one type of food in their environment)

Question 28

The Sun

Answer 28

The primary source of life’s energy on the earth.

Question 29

Energy Pyramid

Answer 29

Is a diagram showing the energy available at each
trophic level. The bottom layer (Producers) has the greatest amount of
energy and the amount of energy Decreases by 90% at each level as you
move UP though the pyramid. Where does the energy go? Into the
environment (Lost as heat)
**Energy is not recycled in an ecosystem it is transferred from one trophic
level to the next.

Question 30

Self Sustaining Ecosystem Requires:

Answer 30

1. a constant source of energy ( usually the SUN )
2. a process to capture the energy and store it in organic molecules. (Photosynthesis)
3. a way to recycle elements back to the ecosystem. (Decomposers)

Question 31

Ecological Succession

Answer 31

The orderly sequence of changes in the communities living in a given ecosystem.
Ecological Succession from bedrock to a forest:
Rock –> Lichens & Moss –> Grasses –> Shrubs –> small Trees –> Hardwood Trees