Unit I "Ecology"

Question 1

biosphere

Answer 1

global ecosystem

Question 2

ecology

Answer 2

scientific study of all the interactions between organisms and their environments

Question 3

biotic factors

Answer 3

living components of environment

Question 4

abiotic factors + examples

Answer 4

nonliving components of environment

temperature, light, water, rocks, air, etc.

Question 5

population

Answer 5

group of individuals of the same species living in a particular geographical area

Question 6

community

Answer 6

all organisms that inhabit a particular area

Question 7

biome

Answer 7

major terrestrial or aquatic life zone

Question 8

what are terrestrial biomes characterized by?

Answer 8

vegetation type

Question 9

what are aquatic biomes characterized by?

Answer 9

physical environment

Question 10

what are the key factors that determine biome type and where it is located?

Answer 10

climate and rainfall

Question 11

what biome typically has a wet climate and rich vegetation?

Answer 11

tropical forest

Question 12

what biome is dominated by grasses and scattered trees?

Answer 12

savanna

Question 13

what biome is the driest of all and has low/unpredictable rainfall?

Answer 13

desert

Question 14

what biome is limited to small coastal areas, and has vegetation as a result of cool ocean currents?

Answer 14

chaparral

Question 15

what biome is mostly treeless, and has relatively cold winter temperatures?

Answer 15

temperate grassland

Question 16

what biome sports large trees and is generally popular in the northern hemisphere?

Answer 16

temperate broadleaf forest

Question 17

what biome is characterized by evergreen trees such as pine, spruce and fir?

Answer 17

coniferous forest

Question 18

what biome receives very little rain and has bitter cold winds?

Answer 18

tundra

Question 19

what biome is present in the Southern Hemisphere and covers high latitudes?

Answer 19

polar ice

Question 20

what does the type I survivorship curve usually refer to?

Answer 20

humans and other large mammals

Question 21

what does the shape of the type I curve represent?

Answer 21

humans usually produce few offspring but take good care of them, allowing them to mature

Question 22

what does the type II survivorship curve usually refer to?

Answer 22

lizards and rodents

Question 23

what does the shape of the type II curve represent?

Answer 23

individuals are no more vulnerable at one stage of life than the other

Question 24

what does the type III survivorship curve usually refer to?

Answer 24

fish, insects, invertebrates

Question 25

what does the shape of the type III curve represent?

Answer 25

species produce large # of offspring and do not take care of them. few that survive have a high rate of survival

Question 26

exponential population growth

Answer 26

expansion of population in an ideal, unlimited environment

Question 27

logistic population growth

Answer 27

growth rate decreases as the population size approaches carrying capacity

Question 28

carrying capacity

Answer 28

maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain

Question 29

what is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Answer 29

prokaryotes have no nucleus, whereas eukaryotes have one or more nuclei

Question 30

hypothesis

Answer 30

tentative answer to a question

Question 31

scientific method

Answer 31

series of steps providing a loose guideline for scientific investigations

Question 32

control group

Answer 32

cancels out effects of all variables other than the one being tested, things in experiment that do not change

Question 33

theory

Answer 33

broader in scope than a hypothesis