Unit 2 List 1 Ecology

Question 1

Abiotic Factors

Answer 1

A nonliving condition or thing

Question 2

Autotrophs

Answer 2

An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals

Question 3

Biotic Factors

Answer 3

Any living thing that has an effect on an ecosystem

Question 4

Bioaccumulation

Answer 4

A process of accumulation of chemicals in an organism

Question 5

Carbon Sink

Answer 5

Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases

Question 6

Carnivore

Answer 6

An animal that feeds on flesh

Question 7

Commensalism

Answer 7

An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm

Question 8

Competition

Answer 8

Competition refers to the rivalry between or among living things for territory, resources, goods, mates, etc

Question 9

Consumer

Answer 9

An organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other plants and/or animals to get energy

Question 10

Decomposer

Answer 10

Any organism that breaks down or eats decaying material for its energy source

Question 11

Ecosystem

Answer 11

A community of living organisms in a particular area

Question 12

Energy Pyramid

Answer 12

A model that shows the flow of energy from one trophic, or feeding, level to the next in an ecosystem

Question 13

Food Chain

Answer 13

A series of organisms that eat one another so that energy and nutrients flow from one to the next

Question 14

Food Web

Answer 14

Consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem

Question 15

Habitat

Answer 15

The natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism

Question 16

Herbivore

Answer 16

An animal that feeds on plants

Question 17

Heterotrophs

Answer 17

An organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients

Question 18

Leaching

Answer 18

The loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil

Question 19

Limiting Factor

Answer 19

Anything that constrains a population’s size and slows or stops it from growing

Question 20

Mutualism

Answer 20

A relationship in which both species are mutually benefited

Question 21

Niche

Answer 21

The role an organism plays in a community

Question 22

Ocean Acidification

Answer 22

A change in the properties of ocean water that can be harmful for plants and animals

Question 23

Omnivore

Answer 23

An animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin

Question 24

Parasitism

Answer 24

A relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefited at the expense of the other

Question 25

Phytoplankton

Answer 25

Plankton consisting of microscopic plants

Question 26

Pioneer Species

Answer 26

The species that first colonize new habitats created by disturbance

Question 27

Population

Answer 27

The whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region

Question 28

Predator

Answer 28

An animal that naturally preys on others

Question 28

Predation

Answer 28

The preying of one animal on others

Question 29

Prey

Answer 29

An animal that is caught and killed by another for food

Question 30

Primary Succession

Answer 30

The colonization of new sites by communities of organisms

Question 31

Producer

Answer 31

Organisms that make their own food

Question 32

Secondary Succession

Answer 32

A climax community or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance

Question 33

Species Overshoot

Answer 33

The growth of a population beyond the environment’s or ecosystem’s ability to support that species

Question 34

Sustainability

Answer 34

The ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time