Unit 2 List 1 Ecology

Question 1

an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.

Answer 1

Autotrophs

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Abiotic Factors

Question 3

the living components (organisms) that shape up the environment.

Answer 3

Biotic Factors

Question 4

the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.

Answer 4

Bioaccumulation

Question 5

a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Answer 5

Carbon Sink

Question 6

is an animal or plant whose nutrition and energy requirements are met by consumption of animal tissues as food.

Answer 6

Carnivore

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Commensalism

Question 8

an interaction between organisms or species in which both require a resource that is in limited supply

Answer 8

Competition

Question 9

any organism that does not make its own energy.

Answer 9

Consumer

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Decomposer

Question 11

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Answer 11

Ecosystem

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Energy Pyramid

Question 13

a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

Answer 13

Food Chain

Question 14

a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

Answer 14

Food Web

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Habitat

Question 16

an animal that feeds on plants.

Answer 16

Herbivore

Question 17

an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.

Answer 17

Heterotrophs

Question 17

a variable of a system that causes a noticeable change in output or another measure of a type of system.

Answer 17

Limiting Factor

Question 18

a natural process where substances are dissolved and removed from a solid by a solution, usually water, which is later extracted or deposited.

Answer 18

Leaching

Question 18

the role an organism plays in a community.

Answer 18

Niche

Question 19

symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.

Answer 19

Mutualism

Question 20

a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide

Answer 20

Ocean Acidification

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Omnivore

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Parasitism

Question 22

plankton consisting of microscopic plants.

Answer 22

Phytoplankton

Question 23

the first to colonize newly created environments or recently disturbed environments

Answer 23

Pioneer Species

Question 24

a particular section, group, or type of people or animals living in an area or country.

Answer 24

Population

Question 25

the preying of one animal on others.

Answer 25

Predation

Question 26

an animal that naturally preys on others.

Answer 26

Predator

Question 27

of ecological succession in which plants and animals first colonize a barren, lifeless habitat

Answer 27

Primary Succession

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Prey

Question 28

an organism that creates its own food or energy.

Answer 28

Producer

Question 29

the secondary ecological succession of a plant’s life.

Answer 29

Secondary Succession

Question 30

the capacity of the biome to feed and sustain that population

Answer 30

Species Overshoot

Question 31

the ability of biological systems to remain healthy, diverse, and productive over time.

Answer 31

Sustainability