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Ecology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ecology | Ecology is the study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. |
| Adaptation | a change that helps an organism or species survive in its environment. Ex: polar bears have white fur and blubber to help them blend with their environment and stay warm |
| 5 Examples of ABIOTIC factors in an environment (NON-LIVING PARTS OF AN ENVIRONMENT) | Examples: 1. Elevation 2. temperatures 3. strong winds 4. type of soil 5. water available |
| Why they ABIOTIC FACTORS often called “limiting factors?" | Called limiting factors because they can restrict (limit) the existence, numbers, reproduction of organisms. |
| Biotic Factors | The living parts of an environment |
| Species (Smallest) | -- must be able to successfully reproduce (have babies) -- Offspring (babies) must be fertile (able to reproduce) -- Ex: humans, rattlesnakes |
| Population | -- one species in a specific area -- EX: all bullfrogs in a pond |
| Community | -- all of the populations in a specific area -- Ex: all plants (many different species) in a pond (specific area) |
| Ecosystem | -- all communities interacting with each other AND the abiotic factors -- Ex: pond, field, stream |
| Biome | -- a very large geographic area with very specific ABIOTIC features -- Ex: temperate deciduous forest (our biome) |
| Biosphere/Ecosphere (LARGEST) | an area on Earth where LIFE exists |
| What are the three things needed for an ecosystem to be self-sufficient? (able to keep going and stay balanced) | 1. must have a constant supply of energy (most = sun) 2. must have a way of making the energy available to the ecosystem (autotrophs) 3, a way to recycle matter (decomposers) |
| How are habitat and niche DIFFERENT? | Habitat is where an organism lives, But a niche is all strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment, how it survives & reproduces, etc. A species’ niche includes ALL interactions between the species and its habitat. |
| Autotrophs | An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals. |
| What is the difference between a photoautotroph and a chemoautotroph? Give examples of each. | Photoautotroph= uses light energy (SUN) to make its own food Ex: plants, algae, some bacteria Chemoautotrophs = use chemical energy to make food Ex: all are bacteria |
| Herbivore | an organism that eats only PLANTS |
| Carnivore | an organism that eats only MEAT |
| Predator | an organism that hunts, kills, and eats other organisms |
| Prey | the animal that is hunted by a predator |
| Scavenger | an organism that eats dead animals |
| Omnivore | an organism that eats BOTH plant and animals |
| Decomposer | organisms that break down and recycle dead plants and animals |
| Mutualism (+,+) | A symbiotic relationship between two species of organisms in which BOTH benefit |
| Commensalism (+,0) | A symbiotic relationship between two species of organisms in which ONE benefits and the other is neutral-not harmed or helped |
| Parasitism (+,-) | A symbiotic relationship between two species of organisms in which ONE benefits and ONE is harmed/hurt |
| Producer | organisms that make their own food (usually plants) |
| Primary/first order consumer | Organisms that eat plants (herbivores) |
| Secondary/second order consumer | Organisms that eat other animals (carnivores) |
| Tertiary/third order consumer | Organisms that eat other carnivores (carnivores) |
| Decomposer | Organisms that break down dead plants /animals and return their nutrients back to the soil Ex: fungi and bacteria |
| What do food chains and food webs illustrate/show? | the flow of energy through an ecosystem |
| What is the major difference between food chains and food webs? | food chains show ONLY ONE path for energy flow through an ecosystem But, a food web shows all the different paths of energy flow and more than one thing an organism eats. |
| Which of the following CAN'T be recycled - Matter or Energy? | Energy CAN’T be recycled Matter CAN be recycled (and MUST be recycled) |
| What is the % of energy transfer as it passes through a food chain/food web? What is most energy lost as? | -- about 10% of energy is passed from level to level of a food chain -- about 90% is lost as HEAT |
| What is the carrying capacity of an environment? | the maximum (largest) population size of a biological species that can live in that specific area based on abiotic and biotic resources available. |
| What is the difference between a density-dependent factor and a density independent factor that limits population size? | Density DEPENDENT factor: Depends on the # of population in a given area ( ****Directly connected to the number of organisms in that area!**** Density INDEPENDENT: These factors happen NO MATER WHAT the population size is. |
| Examples of density dependent factors that will limit the size of a population. | --Competition (for food/water/shelter/mates)-as population increases, competition increases --Predation (number of predators) --Disease |
| Examples of density-independent factors that limit the size of a population. | --Natural Disaster (fire, earthquake, flood) --Harsh climate --man-made: deforestation, pollution |
| What is ecological succession? | The orderly, natural changes and species replacements that take place in the communities of an ecosystem |
| What is the difference between primary ecological succession and secondary ecological succession? | Primary Succession -Development of new communities in an area with NO LIVING THINGS! EX: After a volcano erupts and kills everything -No soil present yet Secondary Succession -There must be at least fertile soil present for this to take place |
| What is a climax community? | A stable, mature community that has reached equilibrium and undergoes little or no change in species. |
| Biome -- Tundra | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Arctic, arid (DRY) Growing season: Very short Soil Quality: Very poor Biodiversity: Very low |
| Biome -- Tundra | Climax Flora (plants) Mosses, grasses, and lichens; few herbaceous plants; no trees |
| Biome -- Tundra | Climax Fauna (animals) Insects; birds (summer only); no amphibians or reptiles; mammals such as rodents, arctic hares, arctic foxes, polar bears, caribous (summer only); mountain goats and chinchillas (alpine tundra only) |
| Biome -- Taiga | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Subarctic, semi-arid Growing season: Short Soil Quality: Poor Biodiversity: Low |
| Biome -- Taiga | Climax Flora (plants) Conifers such as cedar, spruce, pine, and fir; mosses and lichens |
| Biome -- Taiga | Climax Fauna (animals) Insects, birds (mainly summer); no amphibians or reptiles; mammals such as rodents, rabbits, minks, raccoons, bears, moose, and caribou (winter only) |
| Biome -- Temperate Deciduous Forest | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Temperate, semi-humid Growing season: Medium Soil Quality: Good Biodiversity: High |
| Biome -- Temperate Deciduous Forest | Climax Flora (plants) Broadleaf deciduous trees such as beech, maple, oak, and hickory; ferns mosses, and shrubs; many herbaceous plants |
| Biome -- Temperate Deciduous Forest | Climax Fauna (animals) Insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds; mammals such as mice, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer, black bears, bobcats, and wolves |
| Biome -- Desert | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Temperate or tropical, arid (DRY) Growing season: Varies Soil Quality: Very poor Biodiversity: None-low |
| Biome -- Desert | Climax Flora (plants) Plants adapted to dryness such as cacti, sagebrush, and mesquite; virtually no plants if extremely arid |
| Biome -- Desert | Climax Fauna (animals) Insects, reptiles, and birds; mammals such as rodents and coyotes |
| Biome -- Tropical Rain Forest | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Tropical, humid Growing season: Year-round Soil Quality: Poor Biodiversity: Very high |
| Biome -- Tropical Rain Forest | Climax Flora (plants) Tall flowering, broadleaf evergreen trees; vines and epiphytes; few plants on the forest floor |
| Biome -- Tropical Rain Forest | Climax Fauna (animals) Insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds; mammals such as monkeys, sloths, leopards, jaguars, pigs and tigers |
| Biome -- Grasslands | Abiotic Characteristics: Climate: Temperate, semi-arid Growing season: Medium Soil Quality: Excellent Biodiversity: Medium-high |
| Biome -- Grasslands | Climax Flora (plants) Grasses; other herbaceous plants; no trees |
| Biome -- Grasslands | Climax Fauna (animals) Invertebrates such as worms and insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds; mammals such as mice, prairie dogs, rabbits, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bison, and antelope; kangaroo (only i |
Created by:
Mrs. Curcio
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