Marine Ecosystem and Biodiversity

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

A community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment in which they inhabit

Question 2

Biotic

Answer 2

The living portion of the organisms environment

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

the place an organism lives

Question 4

All of the organisms of the same species living in the same area

Answer 4

Population

Question 5

All the different species living in a habitat at the same time

Answer 5

Community

Question 6

Species

Answer 6

A group of similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 7

Biodiversity

Answer 7

All living things: plants, animals, and microorganisms and all their interactions with each other and their environment

Question 8

Coral reefs have a _______ biodiversity as there are many different species in this habitat

Answer 8

High

Question 9

Sandy shores have a _______ biodiversity as there are fewer different species in this habitat

Answer 9

Low

Question 10

Ecological Niche

Answer 10

The role an organism has within an ecosystem taking into account its relationship with other organisms

Question 11

The interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed

Answer 11

Competition

Question 12

Why do coral reefs grow near to the surface of the water?

Answer 12

It is the sunniest and the algae needs sunshine for photosynthesis

Question 13

Symbiosis

Answer 13

Interaction between two or more organisms of different species living in close physical association

Question 14

Example of Symbiosis

Answer 14

Coral reef and zooxanthellae

Question 15

Zooxanthellae gives the coral…

Answer 15

• Oxygen and other nutrients that the coral will need to respire
• Coloration
• Removes carbon dioxide from coral

Question 16

Coral gives zooxanthellae…

Answer 16

• Carbon dioxide and other substances the algae would need for photosynthesis
• protection

Question 17

Interaction between different species in which one species benefits while the other is unaffected

Answer 17

Commensalism

Question 18

Interaction between two different species where one organism benefits (a parasite) while the other is harmed (a host)

Answer 18

Parasitism

Question 19

Example of Commensalism

Answer 19

Remora on a shark

Question 20

Example of Parasitism

Answer 20

Tuna and Nematodes (round worms). Nematodes live inside the tuna and eat them from the inside

Question 21

Types of Parasitism

Answer 21

Ectoparasites and Endoparasites

Question 22

Lives on the outside of the host

Answer 22

Ectoparasites

Question 23

Lives inside their host, often in the digestive tract, gills or muscle tissue

Answer 23

Endoparasites

Question 24

Producer

Answer 24

Organisms that obtain organic food molecules without eating other organisms but by energy from sunlight to make organic molecules and then is a source of food for other organisms

Question 25

Consumer

Answer 25

An organism that obtains its nutrition by feeding on other organisms

Question 26

Means feeding itself

Answer 26

Autotrop

Question 27

Means feeding on others

Answer 27

Heterotroph

Question 28

Trophic level

Answer 28

The position an organism occupies in a food chain

Question 29

Food Chain

Answer 29

Shows the sequence of organisms feeding on other organisms

Question 30

Food Web

Answer 30

A series of interconnected food chains

Question 31

Organism that catches, kills, and eats another animal to obtain energy and nutrients

Answer 31

Predator

Question 32

The organism hunted or eaten for food by another

Answer 32

Prey

Question 33

Types of adaptations for survival:

Answer 33

- camouflage - spines - chemical deterrents - specialized mouth parts and digestive system to get more nutrients from food

Question 34

Shoal

Answer 34

A large number of fish of the same species and approximately the same size/age grouped together for survival reasons

Question 35

Advantages of Shoaling

Answer 35

- feeding – better foraging so less time wasted looking for food - increased hydrodynamic efficiency- save energy swimming in a coordinated way - reproduction – increased chances of finding a mate and eggs and sperm are in close proximity for fertilization - avoiding predators- large shoals confuse predators, it is difficult for them to focus on one individual, also more eyes to spot predators

Question 36

Example of Shoaling

Answer 36

Tuna and Sardines

Question 37

The gradual process of change that occurs in the community structure over a period of time

Answer 37

Succession

Question 38

Example of Succession

Answer 38

Deep sea hydrothermal vents

Question 39

Order of organisms in hydrothermal vents

Answer 39

- chemosynthetic bacteria - small crustaceans - tube worms (Tevnia and then Riftia) - molluscs, - crabs - fish

Question 40

What makes the hydrothermal vent environment hostile?

Answer 40

- High temperature - Low oxygen - High pressure - Low pH

Question 41

How chemosynthesis by bacteria works

Answer 41

Occurs by converting of carbon molecules, (such as carbon dioxide and methane), into carbohydrates using the oxidation sulfur compounds for energy (usually hydrogen sulphide)

Question 42

Chemosynthesis

Answer 42

The production of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using the energy derived from reactions with inorganic chemicals (chemosynthetic organisms)

Question 43

Geographically defined areas with sets of interacting populations of plants, animals, and microbes

Answer 43

Ecosystem diversity

Question 44

The number of different species in a given area or region

Answer 44

Species diversity

Question 45

The amount of genetic information (variation) carried within a population of organisms

Answer 45

Genetic diversity

Question 46

Helps to reduce the overlap of role between species and thus reduce competition

Answer 46

Narrow niche

Question 47

Prefer unstable, changing environments

Answer 47

R-species

Question 48

Prefer unchanging, stable environments

Answer 48

K-species

Question 49

K-species are also known as...

Answer 49

Equilibrium species

Question 50

R-species are also known as...

Answer 50

Opportunists

Question 51

Organisms with a specialized niche have...

Answer 51

a narrow range of food requirements or live in a specific habitat

Question 52

Organisms with a generalized niche exploit...

Answer 52

a wider range of food sources and can live in a wider range of habitats

Question 53

Example of organism with specialized niche

Answer 53

Butterfly fish: - feed on corals and sea anemones - very territorial, living in a specific area of the coral

Question 54

Example of organism with generalized niche

Answer 54

Tuna: - feed on a range of different species of fish, squid and crustaceans - Are highly migratory so have a large habitat - Able to regulated their temperature (warm-blooded)

Question 55

Fundamental niche

Answer 55

The total range of environmental conditions that are suitable for existence without the influence of interspecific competition or predation

Question 56

Realized niche

Answer 56

Describes that part of the fundamental niche actually occupied by the species

Question 57

An organism that obtains energy by breaking down dead organic matter (including dead plants, dead animals and animal waste) into more simple substances

Answer 57

Decomposer

Question 58

Examples of Decomposers

Answer 58

Bacteria and fungi

Question 59

Purpose of Decomposers

Answer 59

- To return valuable nutrients to the ecosystem so they can be used again - Interconnect all trophic levels since the organic material making up all living organisms is eventually broken down

Question 60

Examples of Scavenging organisms

Answer 60

Sea cucumbers Polychaete worms Fiddler crabs

Question 61

Photosynthesis

Answer 61

Process of using light energy to synthesise glucose from carbon dioxide and water (plants and algae)