GEN BIO: ECOLOGY: INTERRELATIONS

Question 1

Autotrophs

Answer 1

Organisms that produce their own food from inorganic substances
Ex. Plants

Question 2

Heterotrophs

Answer 2

Obtain food by consuming other plants and animals
A.k.a CONSUMERS

Question 3

Primary Consumers [Heterotrophs/Consumers]

Answer 3

herbivores

Question 4

Secondary Consumers [Heterotrophs/Consumers]

Answer 4

Carnivores or omnivores that eat herbivores

Question 5

Tertiary Consumers [Heterotrophs/Consumers]

Answer 5

Carnivores that eat other carnivores or omnivores

Question 6

Trophic Levels

Answer 6

How the organism meets its nutritional needs

Question 7

Autotroph

Answer 7

-Producers
-Most important trophic level in ecosystem

Question 8

What is the Food chain?

Answer 8

Path along which food is transferred from level to level

Question 9

Food web

Answer 9

Interrelationship of many food chains

Question 10

Decomposers

Answer 10

-Bacteria and fungi which decompose organic material and release inorganic material
-inorganic material is then made available to plants

Question 11

Biotic [factors that affect the ecosystem]

Answer 11

Factors that include the LIVING part of the ecosystem

Question 12

Abiotic [factors that affect the ecosystem]

Answer 12

Factors are non living influences, such as temperature, humidity or soil composition

Question 13

Symbiosis

Answer 13

Separate species living together, (typically, not always, to the advantage of both)

Question 14

Parasitism [symbiosis]

Answer 14

One species benefits and one species is harmed
Ex. Tape worm and human host

Question 15

Commensalism [symbiosis]

Answer 15

One species benefits and one is unaffected
Ex. Remora and shark

Question 16

Mutualism [symbiosis]

Answer 16

Both species benefits
Ex. Lichen, which is made up of a fungus and an alga and is found on a tree or rock

Question 17

What is the Biosphere?

Answer 17

Entire portion of our planet that is inhabited by living things in a variety of ecosystems and communities

Question 18

Biomes

Answer 18

Groups of ecosystems that are common to the various types of geographical areas

Question 19

[Terrestrial biomes: classified according to differences in climate]
Deserts

Answer 19

Have little precipitation and are more arid than all of the other biomes

Question 20

[Terrestrial biomes: classified according to differences in climate]
Tropical rain forests

Answer 20

-typically have relatively constant temp (68-90*F)
-constant daylight length throughout the year, high humidity, abundant rain
-biodiversity, having more species than any other area of the world
-trees grow tall, great competition for light, little light reaches forest floor

Question 21

[Terrestrial biomes: classified according to differences in climate]
Deciduous forests

Answer 21

-usually found in the temperate, mid altitude regions of the world, where the air contains enough moisture to support the growth of larger trees
-deciduous trees such as oaks and maples are ones that drop their leaves during the dry months
-temperatures in this biome range widely from season to season

Question 22

[Terrestrial biomes: classified according to differences in climate]
Coniferous forests

Answer 22

-taigas are found at high and cool elevations, where the seasons consist of short summers and long, chilly winters
-areas categorized by conifers, such as pine, and firs, which do not shed their leaves in the cold, dry months

Question 23

[Terrestrial biomes: classified according to differences in climate]
Tundras

Answer 23

-very cold temperature and high altitudes
-conditions allow shrubs and bushes to grow, but no trees

Question 24

Aquatic biomes

Answer 24

-Abundant and include swamps, wetlands, rivers and streams, coral reefs, and estuaries.
-Marine biomes occupy the oceans and are classified according to their water depth and proximity to the shoreline