Unit #5: Ecology LC#1/Ecology Unit Test

Question 1

What is an Ecosystem?

Answer 1

A (biological) system of (interacting) organisms and the environment

Question 2

What are Trophic Levels?

Answer 2

Hierarchical levels of organisms living within an environment, ranked according to their ability to consume

(Has to do with food chains/webs)

Question 3

What is the first Trophic Level?

Answer 3

1. Scavengers & Decomposers (Animals/plants that feed off decaying material and organisms)

Question 4

What is the second Trophic Level?

Answer 4

2. Primary Producer (Green plants that photosynthesize)

Question 5

What is the third Trophic Level?

Answer 5

3. Primary Consumer (Consumers that eat primary producers, referred to as “herbivores”)

Question 6

What is the fourth Trophic Level?

Answer 6

4. Secondary Consumer (Consumers which eat (mostly) primary consumers, referred to as “carnivores”)

Question 7

What is the fifth Trophic Level?

Answer 7

5. Tertiary Consumer (Consumers which eat (mostly) secondary consumers, referred to as “top” or “apex” predators)

Question 8

What is the 10% Rule?

Answer 8

The rule stating that every increasing trophic level only carries 10% of energy from the previous one

Question 9

Thinking of the 10% rule, which trophic level has the most energy?

Answer 9

(1 and 2) (Scavengers & Decomposers along with Primary Producers)

Question 10

What is the Carbon Cycle?

Answer 10

Nature’s way of recycling carbon atoms for future use

Question 11

How many ways is Carbon recycled through the carbon cycle? What are they?

Answer 11

There are 4 ways carbon is recycled within the carbon cycle, and they are:

• **Photosynthesis
• Decomposition
• Respiration
• Combustion**

Question 12

What are the 4 subsystems, or “Spheres” of earth?

Answer 12

1. Lithosphere (land)
2. Hydrosphere (water)
3. Biosphere (living things)
4. Atmosphere (air)

Question 13

What is a population?

Answer 13

A group of individuals of a single species that live in a particular area and interact

Question 14

What is a food chain?

Answer 14

A hierarchical series (chain) of organisms dependant on one another as a source of food

Question 15

What is a food web?

Answer 15

A system of interlocking and interdependant food chains

Question 16

If energy cannot be created or destroyed, how is it redistributed as you go higher and higher in an energy pyramid, while energy decreases?

Answer 16

Energy lost to the 10% rule is redistributed as heat energy (sun)

Question 17

What is population?

Answer 17

(A measure of) All inhabitants (of the same or differing species) within a particular environment

Question 18

What is population density?

Answer 18

The concentration of individual within a species in a specific location of an environment

Question 19

How is population density calculated?

Answer 19

By diving total population by total land area

(Population Density = Total population/ Total area)

Question 20

What are some different methods of counting population/species?

Answer 20

Census: Sending out a sample to all individuals in an area

Collecting: Collecting and organisms in an area

Bird songs: Counting birds by songs they sing

Habitat Survey: Getting a general idea by measuring a population’s effect on the environment

Mark/Recapture: Based on a mathematical formula where animals are captured, marked, released, and recaptured

Quadrant: Based on predetermined square areas

Transect: Determines species present based on a given distance from a straight line. Does not give total population

Question 21

How are populations measured? (What graphs?)

Answer 21

Populations are measured through (trendline) graphs, there are two types of graphs: J-curves (exponential) and S-curves (logistic growth)

J-Curves: Trendline graph that shows a dramatic drop from the starting point, followed by an exponential gain, creating a “J” shape (in populations, J-curves are the product of a population trend with no carrying capacity)

S-Curves: Trendline graph that shows a “logistic growth”, continuously moving upwards from the starting point with fluctuating rises and drops. S-curves will level at a specific point and continue onwards, leaving an “S” shape (in populations, S-curves are the product of a population trend with a carrying capacity, constantly going above and below it)

Question 22

What is Carrying Capacity?

Answer 22

(Environmental) Carrying Capacity can be defined as an environment’s limit on how many individuals/plants/animals it can carry within a specific area

Question 23

What are some factors that can affect Carrying Capacity?

Answer 23

Environmental factors like adequate food (or lack thereof), shelter, water, (reproductive) mates, natural disaster(s), human interaction, and so on can have minor or drastic affects on an environment’s carrying capacity

Question 24

What is Biodiversity?

Answer 24

Biodiversity is simply all the different kinds of life that can/may be found in a particular area (environment). It also refers to the different plants, organisms, and bacteria that make up the earth as we know it

Biodiversity makes an environment healthier!

Question 25

What is Ecological Succession?

Answer 25

The process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time, gradullay replacing one another

Question 26

What are the parts of Ecological Succession?

Answer 26

There are 6 Parts of Ecological Succession (that our test will focus on):
* Primary Succession
* Secondary Succession
* Disturbance
* Pioneer Species
* Opportunistic Species
* Climax Community

Question 27

What is Primary Succession? What happens during it?

Answer 27

Type of Ecological Succession in which plants and animals colonize a barren and lifeless habitat (through the use of Pioneer Species)

It usually starts on land with rock or some other material to be broken down and (takes more time and steps than Secondary Succession)

Question 28

What is Secondary Succession? What happens during it?

Answer 28

Type of Ecological Succession in which plants and animals recolonize a habitat that used to be thriving, but faced a major disturbance

Secondary Succession occurs after a disturbance significantly alters an area (without rendering it completely lifeless)

Question 29

What is a Disturbance? What is/are the result(s) of it? What are some examples?

Answer 29

An ecological event that causes a large and rapid change (disorientation/destruction) in an ecosystem. This results in a major setback for any (secure and/or once thriving) community, and will require additional Pioneer Species to set up the land for recolonization.

Examples of Disturbances include:
* Wildfires
* Infestations
* Landslides
* Avalanches
* Volcanic Eruptions/Lava Flow
* Floods
* Human Modernization

Disturbances will result in a provoking for Secondary Succession!

Question 30

What is a Pioneer Species? How are they important for succession? What are some examples?

Answer 30

A type of species that is the first to begin the colonization process of a barren and/or destroyed ecosystem, usually made up of hardy plants and microbial species. This species stabalizes soil, enriches nutrients, moderates temperature, and so on, proving highly important for any beginning/developing ecosystem.

Examples of Pioneer Species include:
* Lichens (KNOW THESE)
* Willow
* Bacteria
* Fungi

Lichen break down hard surface, paving the way for organisms!

Question 31

What is an Opportunistic Species? How are they important for succession? What are some examples?

Answer 31

A type of species that is second in continuing the colonization process of a developing ecosystem, usually made up of predatory and scavenging animals. This species rapidly exploit new resources as they arise, prepared for by pioneer species, proving highly important for any developing ecosystem.

Examples of Opportunistic Species include:
* Rats
* Bears
* Raccoons
* Crows

Question 32

What is a Climax Community? How are they important for succession? What are some examples?

Answer 32

A type of community that is third and final in continuing/completing the colonization process of a developing ecosystem, usually rapidly growing/reproducing plants (and sometimes animals). This community germinates and grows with limited resources (mostly plants) proving highly important for securing any developing ecosystem in the finalization process.

Examples of Climax Species include:
* White Oak
* Hickory Trees
* Sugar Maple

Question 33

What are Lichen? What species classification do they fall in whent alking about ecological succession? Why do they fall into that classification?

Answer 33

Lichen are plantlike organisms that form leaflike, branching growth on surfaces like rock, walls, and trees. These organisms are important because they can easily grow on surfaces where other plants cannot, weathering surfaces down for new species.

Because of their nature being the first organisms to arrive to a barren environment in order to weather down rocks and other surfaces in order for plants to colonize, they are a pioneers species.