Ecology Review #1

What are producers? (autotrophs) Where are they found in a food chain? organisms who make their own food; at the bottom (1st level) or base  

Which processes participate in the carbon cycle? Photosynthesis, the release of gas from volcanoes, the formation of fossil fuels, cellular respiration, etc  

What do consumers have to do with the nitrogen cycle? consumers eat plants and use the nitrogen to make proteins; when consumers decompose, bacteria helps return the nitrogen to the atmosphere

Panda bears feed exclusively on bamboo Panda bears feed exclusively on bamboo. If the panda population suddenly increases in size, what effect will it have on the bamboo population? the bamboo population will decrease

What is the correct order for the transfer of energy within an ecosystem? producer herbivore carnivore decomposer

The producers in an ecosystem contain 400,000 kilocalories of energy The producers in an ecosystem contain 400,000 kilocalories of energy. How much of this energy is available to the primary consumer in the ecosystem? Secondary Consumer? 10% of 400,000, or 40,000 kcal 1% of 400,000, or 4,000 kcal

If a disease kills most members of a predator population, what effect will this have on the prey population? it will greatly increase in size

Define habitat. natural environment in which an organism lives

What does an organism’s trophic level refer to? place occupied by an organism in a food web or food chain  

What are primary consumers? Where are they found in a food chain? Organisms who obtain energy by directly feeding on producers (ex. Herbivores); directly above the producers

As the trophic level increases, what happens to the amount of available energy? decreases

What is meant by the term biosphere? The living world

What is an ecosystem? A community plus its nonliving environment

What is a community? Populations of several species

What is the difference between an ecosystem & a community? An ecosystem contains nonliving factors while a community does not

Define population. Give an example. A group of one species of organisms occupying the same general area, using the same resources, and acted upon by the same environmental factors. Ex> All spotted catfish in a lake

Once water is in the atmosphere, how does it return to the land and oceans? rain, snow, sleet, or hail fall to the surface via precipitation

What is meant by the term biotic factor What is meant by the term biotic factor? Give an example of biotic factors in an ecosystem. Living factors Ex>trees, grass, plants, animals

What is meant by the term abiotic factor What is meant by the term abiotic factor? Give an example of the abiotic factors in an ecosystem. Non-living Ex> Soil, rocks, temperature

What are sources for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? automobile exhaust, deforestation, respiration, volcanic activity

Why are scientists so concerned with carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere? high carbon dioxide levels seem to coincide with high temperature which can lead to global warming

What is an ecological pyramid? Diagram showing the decreasing amounts of energy, living tissue, or number of organisms at successive trophic levels

What is the water cycle? List the stages of the water cycle. Water continuously moves between the oceans, the atmosphere, and land—sometimes outside living organisms and sometimes inside them; evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation

What is the nitrogen cycle? List the stages of the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen Fixation: certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into forms such as Ammonium, Nitrates, and Nitrites that autotrophs can absorb & use Heterotrophs obtain amino acids & proteins from the autotrophs they eat. Denitrification: Wastes from heterotrophs and the remains of dead organisms contain nitrogen in the form of organic compounds; these nitrogen-containing organic compounds are broken down by denitrifying bacteria in the soil The runoff from fertilized land brings nitrogen-containing material to aquatic ecosystems

When can atmospheric nitrogen be used by most living things? When converted to solids with the help of nitrogen-fixing bacteria during the process of nitrogen fixation

What is a food chain? a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten  

What is a food web? Shows the complex feeding relationships that result from interconnecting food chains

What is the difference between a food web and a food chain? A food chain is a simple straight line sequence of organisms and a food web shows interconnecting food chains.

What is an herbivore? Give an example. obtain energy by eating autotrophs that have manufactured and stored proteins, carbohydrates, and other high energy substances. Ex> cows, caterpillars, and deer.

What is meant by the term primary consumer? Secondary consumer? Organisms who obtain energy by directly feeding on producers (ex. Herbivores) Organisms who obtain energy by feeding on primary consumers (ex. Carnivores)

What is transpiration? Loss of water from a plant through its leaves

Describe three types of symbioses. Parasitism; one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Example: Ticks & Fleas Commensalism- one organism benefits but doesn’t harm nor help the other organism. Example: A bird lives in a tree, but doesn’t harm the tree Mutualism- both organisms benefit from the relationship. Example: A bee collecting pollen from a flower

What is primary succession? Secondary sucession? Pioneer species? Succession that begins in an area with no remnants of an older community. Succession which occurs in existing communities that are not completely destroyed by disturbances. The first species to colonize barren areas, for example lichens