UNIT 2 - Ecology

Question 1

Define: Ecology

Answer 1

The relationship among organisms (biotic), and between organisms and their environment (abiotic)

Question 2

Name 2 herbivores

Answer 2

Hippo, giraffe

Question 3

Name 2 carnivores

Answer 3

crocodile, lion

Question 4

Name 2 omnivores

Answer 4

Raccoon, bear

Question 5

Name the order of the food chain

Answer 5

Producer
Primary consumer
secondary consumer
tertiary consumer

Question 6

Define: Tropic level

Answer 6

Each step in the transfer of energy and matter in a community

Question 7

Define: Scavenger

Answer 7

consumers that feed on the tissues of dead organisms

Question 8

Define: Decomposer

Answer 8

An organisms that feeds on dead organic material

Question 9

Define: Food Web

Answer 9

all the interconnected food chains in s community

Question 10

Why is a pyramid used to represent things in biology?

Answer 10

It shows a decrease as you go up the food chain

Question 11

What 3 things do the pyramids represent?

Answer 11

Pyramid of Numbers, Energy, and Biomass

Question 12

What are the 3 main biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 12

Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle

Question 13

What are the reactants and products of the Water cycle?

Answer 13

H2O -> H and O

Question 14

What are the 2 main parts of the Carbon and Oxygen cycle?

Answer 14

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Question 15

What are the products and reactants of Photosynthesis?

Answer 15

H2O+ CO2 + LIGHT —>C6 H 12 O 6 + O2

Question 16

What are the products and reactants of Cellular Respiration?

Answer 16

O2 + C6 H12 O6 —> CO2 + H2O + ENERGY

Question 17

Define: Biological Magnification

Answer 17

The increase in the amount of a substance as it moves up through the tropic levels in the food chain

Question 18

What are the 3 main mortality patterns?

Answer 18

Late Death
Early Death
Moderate Death

Question 19

Explain Late Death

Answer 19

-Most individuals survive for a long period and die as a result of old age

Question 20

Reproductive Strategy for Late Death

Answer 20

Have a few offspring (1-5) at a time and care for them until maturity
Eg. Mammals (humans, apes, whales)

Question 21

Reproductive strategy for Early Death

Answer 21

Have many offspring (100’s) at a time, and provide no care

Eg. Insects & amphibianss

Question 22

Explain Early Death

Answer 22

Most offspring die at a very early age and do not survive to maturity

Question 23

Explain Moderate Death

Answer 23

Organisms have an equal chance of death at any age

Question 24

Reproductive Strategy for Moderate Death

Answer 24

Have medium number of offspring (10’s) and may provide little or no care
Eg. Fish. reptiles, birds

Question 25

What is a limiting factor?

Answer 25

Any condition of the environment that limits the size of a population

Question 26

Name the 7 limiting factors

Answer 26

Predators
climate
disease
water
pollution
competition
parasites

Question 27

Why do natural populations eventually reach a carrying capacity?

Answer 27

due to limited resources

Question 28

What is a carrying capacity?

Answer 28

the maximum number of individuals an area can support

Question 29

Why do real populations fluctuate?

Answer 29

Due to changes in the resources and the environment

Question 30

What are fluctuations?

Answer 30

increases and decreases over time

Question 31

What is a population cycle?

Answer 31

When the fluctuations occur in a regular time pattern

Question 32

Explain what occurs in a closed population growth pattern

Answer 32

-J shaped growth 
Lots of food and space
-S shaped growth
Reaches carrying capacity
Limited food and space
-Declines to extinction 
Run out of food and space, and waste builds up

Question 33

What is the boom and bust pattern?

Answer 33

a sudden and dramatic increase and decrease in a population

Question 34

What causes a boom and bust population to occur?

Answer 34

a sudden change in the conditions of the environment

eg. a period of rain in the spring or summer can cause a boom and bust in the mosquito population