the living world Flashcards
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems.
What are the three main components of biodiversity?
The three main components are species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
Define an ecosystem.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.
What is the significance of keystone species?
Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, and their removal can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem.
What are trophic levels?
Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, consisting of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.
Explain the concept of ecological niche.
An ecological niche refers to the role and position a species has in its environment, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.
What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?
Autotrophs produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, while heterotrophs obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
What is an example of a biotic factor?
An example of a biotic factor is any living organism, such as plants, animals, fungi, or bacteria that affect the ecosystem.
Define carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are non-native organisms that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem, economy, or human health.
What is a biome?
A biome is a large geographical area characterized by distinct climate, flora, and fauna, such as forests, deserts, and grasslands.
What are primary producers?
Primary producers are organisms that produce their own food, primarily through photosynthesis, and form the base of the food chain.
What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem
Describe commensalism.
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
What is mutualism?
Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.
What is an endemic species?
An endemic species is a species that is native to and found only within a specific geographic area.
Define symbiosis.
Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.
What is parasitism?
Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host).
What is an ecosystem service?
Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.
Define habitat fragmentation.
Habitat fragmentation occurs when large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, affecting species’ survival and biodiversity.
What are the four primary factors that determine climate?
The four primary factors are temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind patterns.
Explain ecological succession
Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.
What is primary succession?
Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, such as after a volcanic eruption
What is secondary succession?
Secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, like after a forest fire.
Define an ecological pyramid.
An ecological pyramid visually represents the distribution of energy or biomass among trophic levels in an ecosystem.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases, leading to global warming.
What are biogeochemical cycles?
Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle nutrients and elements through the environment, including the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles.
What is a food web?
A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.
Define overfishing.
Overfishing is the practice of catching fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to population decline.
Explain the concept of a trophic cascade.
A trophic cascade occurs when changes in one trophic level cause indirect effects on other levels, often disrupting the entire ecosystem.
What is habitat loss?
Habitat loss refers to the destruction or alteration of natural environments, often due to human activities, leading to decreased biodiversity.
What are ecosystem indicators?
Ecosystem indicators are biological, chemical, or physical measures that can provide information about the health and functioning of an ecosystem.
What is bioremediation?
Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, such as microbes, to remove or neutralize contaminants from soil and water.
What is the significance of genetic diversity?
Genetic diversity increases a population’s ability to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.
What is the role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?
Phytoplankton are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, forming the base of the food web and producing oxygen through photosynthesis.
What is extinction?
Extinction is the permanent loss of a species from Earth, often due to habitat destruction, climate change, or overexploitation.
Define ecological footprint.
An ecological footprint measures the environmental impact of an individual or population, indicating how much land and resources are needed to sustain their lifestyle
What is conservation biology?
Conservation biology is the scientific study focused on the preservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Explain the term “sustainable development.”
Sustainable development is the practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What are trophic interactions?
Trophic interactions refer to the relationships between organisms in terms of food chains and food webs, including predator-prey and mutualistic relationships.
What is an abiotic factor?
An abiotic factor is a non-living component of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, soil, and sunlight.
What is a niche partitioning?
Niche partitioning is the process by which competing species use different resources or occupy different habitats to reduce competition.
Define carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.
What is the importance of pollinators in ecosystems?
Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are crucial for the reproduction of many flowering plants, contributing to biodiversity and food production
Explain the term “biodiversity hotspot.”
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of endemic species that is under threat from human activities
What is the role of apex predators in an ecosystem?
Apex predators help maintain the balance of ecosystems by controlling the population of other species, preventing overgrazing and promoting biodiversity.
What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms, playing a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate.
Define overexploitation.
Overexploitation is the excessive use of a resource, such as wildlife or plants, leading to population declines and potential extinction.
What are the impacts of climate change on ecosystems?
Climate change can lead to shifts in species distributions, altered habitats, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity.
Explain the concept of ecological resilience.
Ecological resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances and maintain its essential functions and structures.
