the living world Flashcards

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1
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

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

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2
Q

What are the three main components of biodiversity?

A

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

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3
Q

Define an ecosystem.

A

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

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4
Q

What is the significance of keystone species?

A

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.

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5
Q

What are trophic levels?

A

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

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6
Q

Explain the concept of ecological niche.

A

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.

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7
Q

What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

A

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

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8
Q

What is an example of a biotic factor?

A

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

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9
Q

Define carrying capacity.

A

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

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10
Q

What are invasive species?

A

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

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11
Q

What is a biome?

A

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

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12
Q

What are primary producers?

A

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

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12
Q

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

A

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

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13
Q

Describe commensalism.

A

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

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14
Q

What is mutualism?

A

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

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14
Q

What is an endemic species?

A

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

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14
Q

Define symbiosis.

A

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

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15
Q

What is parasitism?

A

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

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16
Q

What is an ecosystem service?

A

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

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17
Q

Define habitat fragmentation.

A

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

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18
Q

What are the four primary factors that determine climate?

A

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

19
Q

Explain ecological succession

A

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

20
Q

What is primary succession?

A

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

21
Q

What is secondary succession?

A

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

22
Q

Define an ecological pyramid.

A

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

23
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

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

24
Q

What are biogeochemical cycles?

A

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

25
Q

What is a food web?

A

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

26
Q

Define overfishing.

A

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

27
Q

Explain the concept of a trophic cascade.

A

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

27
Q

What is habitat loss?

A

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

28
Q

What are ecosystem indicators?

A

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

29
Q

What is bioremediation?

A

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

30
Q

What is the significance of genetic diversity?

A

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

31
Q

What is the role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?

A

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

32
Q

What is extinction?

A

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

33
Q

Define ecological footprint.

A

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

34
Q

What is conservation biology?

A

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

35
Q

Explain the term “sustainable development.”

A

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

36
Q

What are trophic interactions?

A

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

37
Q

What is an abiotic factor?

A

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

38
Q

What is a niche partitioning?

A

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

38
Q

Define carrying capacity.

A

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

38
Q

What is the importance of pollinators in ecosystems?

A

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

39
Q

Explain the term “biodiversity hotspot.”

A

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

40
Q

What is the role of apex predators in an ecosystem?

A

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

41
Q

What is the carbon cycle?

A

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.

42
Q

Define overexploitation.

A

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

43
Q

What are the impacts of climate change on ecosystems?

A

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

44
Q

Explain the concept of ecological resilience.

A

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