Ecology quiz Flashcards

Ecology is the study of organisms' interactions with one another and their environment.

An organismal ecologist studies individual living systems, focusing on traits and physical adaptations that increase an organism's ability to gather or obtain food.

A population is a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.

Population ecologists study the abundance, distribution, and changes in populations over time.

A community is a group of populations of different species that cohabit the same area.

A community consists of populations of different species, while an ecosystem includes the community plus the physical environment.

The biosphere is the sum of all ecosystems on Earth, encompassing all living organisms and their environments.

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems over geologic history.

Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an environment, such as temperature, moisture, oxygen, and sunlight.

The Wallace Line is a biogeographical division between Asia and Australia that illustrates the impact of geologic changes on species distribution.

Exotic species are non-native species to an area, which can sometimes become invasive and disrupt local ecosystems.

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term weather patterns of an area.

A biome is a very large community of organisms and their environment, characterized by distinct flora, fauna, and abiotic factors.

Biomass is the total mass of organisms in a given area.

The Hadley cell is an atmospheric circulation pattern near the equator that involves the movement of warm air rising, cooling, and then moving towards the poles.

Agricultural products in the United States travel an average of 1,500 miles from farm to plate.

Species richness, which is the number of different species present in an ecosystem, is a measure of biodiversity.

Producers depend on consumers to recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem through processes like decomposition.

Tree sap is not an abiotic factor; it is a biotic factor because it comes from a living organism.

A niche describes the role and position a species has in its environment, including how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces.

Sunlight is abiotic, as it is a nonliving component of the environment.

A wildfire would likely lead to a temporary decrease in biodiversity, but it can also create opportunities for new species to colonize and for ecological succession to occur.

A habitat is the physical environment where an organism lives, while a niche is the role the organism plays in that environment, including its interactions with other species.

Careers in ecology include wildlife biologist, environmental consultant, conservation scientist, and ecological researcher.

Autotrophs produce oxygen and organic materials that heterotrophs consume, while heterotrophs provide carbon dioxide and nutrients that autotrophs need for photosynthesis.

Community.

The removal of wolves led to an increase in deer populations, which overgrazed on certain plants, altering the plant community structure.

Carrying capacity.

This answer will vary depending on the location of the community, but common types include forests, grasslands, wetlands, and urban ecosystems.

An ecologist might set up an artificial environment to control variables and study specific interactions or processes in a controlled setting.

Disturbances can reduce species diversity initially, but they can also create new niches and opportunities for different species to thrive, potentially increasing diversity over time.

Species richness and evenness can be used to assess biological diversity.

Global warming could lead to warmer climates, reducing the need for dense fur in grizzly bears for insulation.

A habitat is where an organism lives, while a niche is how it lives and interacts within that environment.

Lichens are often pioneer species in primary succession, as they can colonize bare rock and help create soil.

The arrows represent the flow of energy and nutrients from producers (grass) to primary consumers and then to secondary consumers (fox).

Carnivore.

The disease epidemic could be due to factors such as high population density, lack of genetic diversity, or environmental changes that favor the spread of the disease.

Organisms respond to environmental factors such as light, temperature, water availability, and the presence of predators or competitors.