the living world

Question 1

What is biodiversity?

Answer 1

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems.

Question 2

What are the three main components of biodiversity?

Answer 2

The three main components are species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Question 3

Define an ecosystem.

Answer 3

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

Question 4

What is the significance of keystone species?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What are trophic levels?

Answer 5

Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, consisting of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Question 6

Explain the concept of ecological niche.

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Answer 7

Autotrophs produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, while heterotrophs obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Question 8

What is an example of a biotic factor?

Answer 8

An example of a biotic factor is any living organism, such as plants, animals, fungi, or bacteria that affect the ecosystem.

Question 9

Define carrying capacity.

Answer 9

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Question 10

What are invasive species?

Answer 10

Invasive species are non-native organisms that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem, economy, or human health.

Question 11

What is a biome?

Answer 11

A biome is a large geographical area characterized by distinct climate, flora, and fauna, such as forests, deserts, and grasslands.

Question 12

What are primary producers?

Answer 12

Primary producers are organisms that produce their own food, primarily through photosynthesis, and form the base of the food chain.

Question 12

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Answer 12

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem

Question 13

Describe commensalism.

Answer 13

Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Question 14

What is mutualism?

Answer 14

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Question 14

What is an endemic species?

Answer 14

An endemic species is a species that is native to and found only within a specific geographic area.

Question 14

Define symbiosis.

Answer 14

Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.

Question 15

What is parasitism?

Answer 15

Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host).

Question 16

What is an ecosystem service?

Answer 16

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.

Question 17

Define habitat fragmentation.

Answer 17

Habitat fragmentation occurs when large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, affecting species’ survival and biodiversity.

Question 18

What are the four primary factors that determine climate?

Answer 18

The four primary factors are temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind patterns.

Question 19

Explain ecological succession

Answer 19

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.

Question 20

What is primary succession?

Answer 20

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, such as after a volcanic eruption

Question 21

What is secondary succession?

Answer 21

Secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact, like after a forest fire.

Question 22

Define an ecological pyramid.

Answer 22

An ecological pyramid visually represents the distribution of energy or biomass among trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Question 23

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 23

The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases, leading to global warming.

Question 24

What are biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 24

Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle nutrients and elements through the environment, including the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles.

Question 25

What is a food web?

Answer 25

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 26

Define overfishing.

Answer 26

Overfishing is the practice of catching fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to population decline.

Question 27

Explain the concept of a trophic cascade.

Answer 27

A trophic cascade occurs when changes in one trophic level cause indirect effects on other levels, often disrupting the entire ecosystem.

Question 27

What is habitat loss?

Answer 27

Habitat loss refers to the destruction or alteration of natural environments, often due to human activities, leading to decreased biodiversity.

Question 28

What are ecosystem indicators?

Answer 28

Ecosystem indicators are biological, chemical, or physical measures that can provide information about the health and functioning of an ecosystem.

Question 29

What is bioremediation?

Answer 29

Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, such as microbes, to remove or neutralize contaminants from soil and water.

Question 30

What is the significance of genetic diversity?

Answer 30

Genetic diversity increases a population’s ability to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases.

Question 31

What is the role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 31

Phytoplankton are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, forming the base of the food web and producing oxygen through photosynthesis.

Question 32

What is extinction?

Answer 32

Extinction is the permanent loss of a species from Earth, often due to habitat destruction, climate change, or overexploitation.

Question 33

Define ecological footprint.

Answer 33

An ecological footprint measures the environmental impact of an individual or population, indicating how much land and resources are needed to sustain their lifestyle

Question 34

What is conservation biology?

Answer 34

Conservation biology is the scientific study focused on the preservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Question 35

Explain the term “sustainable development.”

Answer 35

Sustainable development is the practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 36

What are trophic interactions?

Answer 36

Trophic interactions refer to the relationships between organisms in terms of food chains and food webs, including predator-prey and mutualistic relationships.

Question 37

What is an abiotic factor?

Answer 37

An abiotic factor is a non-living component of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, soil, and sunlight.

Question 38

What is a niche partitioning?

Answer 38

Niche partitioning is the process by which competing species use different resources or occupy different habitats to reduce competition.

Question 38

Define carrying capacity.

Answer 38

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.

Question 38

What is the importance of pollinators in ecosystems?

Answer 38

Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are crucial for the reproduction of many flowering plants, contributing to biodiversity and food production

Question 39

Explain the term “biodiversity hotspot.”

Answer 39

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of endemic species that is under threat from human activities

Question 40

What is the role of apex predators in an ecosystem?

Answer 40

Apex predators help maintain the balance of ecosystems by controlling the population of other species, preventing overgrazing and promoting biodiversity.

Question 41

What is the carbon cycle?

Answer 41

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.

Question 42

Define overexploitation.

Answer 42

Overexploitation is the excessive use of a resource, such as wildlife or plants, leading to population declines and potential extinction.

Question 43

What are the impacts of climate change on ecosystems?

Answer 43

Climate change can lead to shifts in species distributions, altered habitats, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity.

Question 44

Explain the concept of ecological resilience.

Answer 44

Ecological resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances and maintain its essential functions and structures.