Spring Final chs. 18-20

Question 1

the study of interactions between organisms and their environments

Answer 1

ecology

Question 2

levels of ecological organization, starting with organism

Answer 2

• organism
• population (same species, same place)
• community (all living things)
• ecosystem (biotic and abiotic)
• biome
• biosphere

Question 3

a gradual, reversible physiological adjustment to an environmental change; takes days or weeks

Answer 3

acclimation

Question 4

the area where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean

Answer 4

estuary

Question 5

a major life zone, characterized by vegetation and climate

Answer 5

biome

Question 6

the accumulation of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere, which traps heat and warms the planet

Answer 6

greenhouse effect

Question 7

effects of global warming

Answer 7

• disrupts species interactions
• wildfires
• shifting biome boundaries

Question 8

a group of organisms in the same species living in the same area

Answer 8

population

Question 9

formula for calculation density

Answer 9

of individuals divided by square area

Question 10

If there are 100 apes living in 20 square miles, their population density is…

Answer 10

5 apes per square mile

Question 11

three characteristics of opportunistic species

Answer 11

• reach sexual maturity rapidly
• produce many offspring
• little parental care

Question 12

type of survivorship curve shown by a species where most individuals survive to old age

Answer 12

type I (example: humans)

Question 13

type of survivorship curve shown by a species where survivorship is constant over the lifespan - individuals are equally likely to die at any age

Answer 13

type II

Question 14

type of survivorship curve shown by a species where most organisms die young

Answer 14

type III

Question 15

population growth model when growth is unlimited, and the larger a population becomes the faster it grows

Answer 15

exponential population growth

Question 16

population growth model when growth is slowed down by limiting factors

Answer 16

logistic population growth

Question 17

in logistic population growth, the highest a population can reach

Answer 17

carrying capacity

Question 18

factors that limit population growth and are NOT affected by the population size (example: earthquake)

Answer 18

density-independent factors

Question 19

factors that limit population growth are ARE affected by the population size (examples: availability of prey, living space, contagious diseases)

Answer 19

density-dependent factors

Question 20

the law that defines endangered and threatened species and protects their habitats

Answer 20

The Endangered Species Act

Question 21

the act of using predators and parasites to reduce the number of an unwanted species (example: put a cat in your yard to catch mice)

Answer 21

biological control

Question 22

the growth rate in __ countries is generally lower than the growth rate in __ countries

Answer 22

the growth rate in DEVELOPED countries is generally lower than the growth rate in LESS DEVELOPED countries

Question 23

an estimate of how much land and water is needed to support an individual or a nation

Answer 23

ecological footprint

Question 24

the country with the highest ecological footprint (meaning that people there use the most resources)

Answer 24

United States

Question 25

the variety of living things on Earth

Answer 25

biodiversity

Question 26

four main causes of declining biodiversity

Answer 26

• habitat destruction
• invasive species
• overexploitation (hunting)
• pollution

Question 27

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit

Answer 27

mutualism

Question 28

symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the other (host) is harmed

Answer 28

parasitic

Question 29

occurs when an animal eats plant parts; not usually fatal to plants

Answer 29

herbivory

Question 30

occurs when an animal kills and eats another

Answer 30

predation

Question 31

the number of different species in a community

Answer 31

species richness

Question 32

more species richness in a community means more species __

Answer 32

diversity (more is better!)

Question 33

the proportions of each species in a community

Answer 33

relative abundance

Question 34

on average, __% of the energy available at each trophic level is taken up at the next level

Answer 34

10%

Question 35

four trophic levels, starting at the bottom of the food chain

Answer 35

• producers
• primary consumers (herbivores)
• secondary consumers
• tertiary consumers

Question 36

the major source of phosphorus for terrestrial ecosystems

Answer 36

rocks

Question 37

where do plants get phosphorus and nitrogen from?

Answer 37

soil

Question 38

how are nitrogen and phosphorus transferred from plants to animals?

Answer 38

animals eat the plants

Question 39

how are nitrogen and phosphorus transferred back to the soil after animals eat plants?

Answer 39

animal waste (feces) is broken down by bacteria

Question 40

two goals of conservation ecology

Answer 40

understand and counteract the loss of biodiversity

Question 41

a relatively small area with many endangered and threatened species, along with many native species not found anywhere else

Answer 41

biodiversity hot spot

Question 42

using ecological principles to study how we use land

Answer 42

landscape ecology

Question 43

development that meets the needs of people without limiting the resources available to future generations

Answer 43

sustainable development

Question 44

competition between members of the same species (often, for living space, mates, or prey)

Answer 44

intraspecific competition