INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPTS OF ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

• Ecology is the study of interactions that exist among organisms and with their physical environment.
• Ecology seeks to understand the factors that control the abundance and distribution of organisms in their environment.

Question 2

Terrestrial Ecology

Answer 2

• Terrestrial ecology is a branch of ecosystem ecology that studies the interactions among land-based organisms and with their environment
• It provides an understanding of how biotic components interact in response to the three major components of the environment: Air, Land, and Water

Question 3

Biosphere

Answer 3

• The global ecological system integrating biotic and abiotic elements in the major sphere

Question 4

Biomes

Answer 4

• Ecological areas defined by abiotic factors

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

• Community + abiotic factors

Question 6

Community

Answer 6

• Group of populations

Question 7

Population

Answer 7

• Group of organisms

Question 8

Individual

Answer 8

• Organism

Question 9

Adaptation

Answer 9

• The process by which an organism becomes ‘fitted’ to its environment (in response to natural selection). Results in an organism having ‘adaptive traits’

Question 10

Natural Selection

Answer 10

• The process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genetic constitution
• Essentially, traits that make an organism more competitive or successful are more likely to be passed to the next generation than traits that do not

Question 11

Four Ecosystem Services

Answer 11

1. Provisioning - Food, freshwater, fiber
2. Regulating - Air quality, water runoff, erosion, pollution
3. Cultural - Existence and ethical values, recreation
4. Supporting - Nutrient cycling, water cycling, photosynthesis

Question 12

Ecosystem Processes

Answer 12

• Are the transfer of energy and matter from one trophic level to another

Question 13

Ecosystem Feedbacks

Answer 13

• Regulate the internal dynamics of ecosystem processes, like a thermostat

Question 14

Producers (plants)

Answer 14

• Are the major source of energy into the ecosystem, as they convert an abiotic source of energy (sunlight) into bio-available energy forms (carbohydrates)

Question 15

Consumers

Answer 15

• Are organisms that derive energy from eating producers or other consumers. There are two types of consumer (specialist and generalist) and 3 levels of consumption (primary, secondary and tertiary)

Question 16

Keystone Species

Answer 16

• Are plants or animals that have a disproportionately large impact on the ecosystem because of their abundance (e.g. dominant predator or plant)

Question 17

Decomposers

Answer 17

• Derive energy from the death of organisms (consumers or producers), and produce the nutrients required to sustain primary production by plants

Question 18

Ecosystem Resilience

Answer 18

• Is the capacity of an ecological system to maintain similar structure, functioning, and feedback following disturbance.
• Functional redundancy and functional diversity are key attributes of a resilient system.

Question 19

Ecosystem Thresholds

Answer 19

• Are critical levels of one or more ecosystem controls that, when crossed, can lead to an abrupt modification in ecosystem structure and function

Question 20

Succession

Answer 20

• Is the gradual change in species composition and ecosystem structure over time, from pioneer species to a stable climax community. It can be primary (starting on bare land) or secondary (after a disturbance)

Question 21

Chronosequences

Answer 21

• Studying ecosystems of different ages to track changes over time.

Question 22

Toposequences

Answer 22

• Observing ecological changes along a slope, where elevation and moisture affect species and succession stages.