Unit 2 List 1 Ecology

Question 1

abiotic factor

Answer 1

a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment.

Question 2

Autotrophs

Answer 2

can convert abiotic sources of energy into energy stored in organic compounds

Question 3

Biotic Factors

Answer 3

living things within an ecosystem

Question 3

Commensalism

Answer 3

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

Question 3

Bioaccumulation

Answer 3

an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time

Question 3

Carnivore

Answer 3

nutrition and energy requirements are met by consumption of animal tissues

Question 4

Carbon Sink

Answer 4

anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases

Question 5

Decomposer

Answer 5

especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Question 5

Competition

Answer 5

the activity or condition of competing.

Question 5

Consumer

Answer 5

a person who purchases goods and services for personal use.

Question 6

energy pyramid

Answer 6

graphical representation designed to show the biomass or bioproductivity at each trophic level in an ecosystem

Question 7

Food Chain

Answer 7

network of links in a food web

Question 8

Food Web

Answer 8

consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem

Question 9

Habitat

Answer 9

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Question 10

herbivore

Answer 10

an animal that mainly eats plants

Question 11

Heterotrophs

Answer 11

organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients

Question 12

Leaching

Answer 12

a process of extracting a substance from a solid material that is dissolved in a liquid

Question 13

Limiting Factor

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Mutualism

Answer 14

the doctrine that mutual dependence is necessary to social well-being.

Question 15

Niche

Answer 15

a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment.

Question 16

Ocean Acidification

Answer 16

a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time

Question 17

Omnivore

Answer 17

an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.

Question 18

Parasitism

Answer 18

the practice of living as a parasite in or on another organism.

Question 19

Phytoplankton

Answer 19

autotrophic components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems

Question 20

Pioneer Species

Answer 20

species that first colonize new habitats created by disturbance

Question 21

Population

Answer 21

all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.

Question 22

Predation

Answer 22

the preying of one animal on others.

Question 23

Predator

Answer 23

an animal that naturally preys on others.

Question 24

Prey

Answer 24

an animal that is caught and killed by another for food.

Question 25

Primary Succession

Answer 25

happens when a new patch of land is created or exposed for the first time

Question 26

Producer

Answer 26

organisms that make their own food;

Question 27

Secondary Succession

Answer 27

happens when a climax community or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance

Question 28

Species Overshoot

Answer 28

Once a population exceeds carrying capacity

Question 29

Sustainability

Answer 29

a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time.