Exam 1 Study Guide: Climate & Biomes

Question 1

Define ecology.

Answer 1

The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and the relationship of organisms to each other and the physical environment.

Question 2

What are some questions ecologists might ask?

Answer 2

1. Where do organisms occur?
2. How many organisms occur there?
3. Why do organisms occur where they do?

Question 3

How does ecology differ from other scientific fields?

Answer 3

1. Where do organisms occur?
2. How many organisms occur there?
3. Why do organisms occur where they do?

Question 4

Name challenges of ecological research.

Question 5

How do microcosms/mesocosms differ from natural experiments?

Question 6

How do mathematical models support ecological research?

Question 7

List the hierarchy of ecological systems. For each level, define it and explain how it differs from other levels.

Question 8

At what level do ecologists begin to explore interactions among species?

Question 9

MAKE MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HIERARCHY.

Question 10

Explain the different ways organisms acquire energy. Include examples for each.

Question 11

List different types of consumers with definitions and examples.

Question 12

What role do the different consumers play? Name the different interspecific interactions that occur between organisms such as competition.