Ecology Test Review

You will be working in groups of 4 (the 3 people around you). Need one whiteboard and one marker per group.

Discuss the question as a group. Hold up the whiteboard when we say to. We’ll keep track of points up front.

Why is the moose pop. So high at point A? Very few predators eating them. A B

Why is the moose pop. so low at point B? Wolf pop. high= many moose were eaten A B

What are two changes to an ecosystem that would cause primary succession? Glacial retreat/ volcano

What are two changes to an ecosystem that would cause secondary succession? Fire, hurricane, tornado,

Which type of succession occurs faster? Why? Secondary- soil is already created

Which type of succession begins from bare rock (no soil present)? Primary succession

Which organisms are the pioneer species? Mosses & Lichens

Which organisms make up the climax communit y? Mature Forest

Can organisms from different parts of the world compete for the same food source? Explain. No, they must share a niche or habitat in order to fight for food.

Which is the most stable stage of successio n? Mature Forest

List 2 causes of desertification. Lack of crop rotation Over use of fertilizers Overgrazing of animals Cutting down trees

Which type of symbiosis describes when one organism is benefitting and one is harmed? PARASITISM

Determine the type of symbiosis: Wrasse fish eat parasites off of larger fish (as a meal). Larger fish are clean of parasites. MUTUALISM

Explain why a cheetah eating a gazelle is not an example of parasitism. Intent is to kill and eat prey. Parasites want to keep their host alive.

Fill in the trophic levels for the energy pyramid below. A B C D E

If Level E has 500% energy, how much of that energy would level D have? 50% A B C D E

Of the original 500% energy in Level E, how much energy would level B have? 0.5 % A B C D E

Biomagnification is the build up of _________ in (higher or lower) trophic levels. TOXINS

Why do toxins build up in higher trophic levels? From eating organisms at lower trophic levels who already have a build of those toxins.

In which symbiotic relationship is one organism neither harmed nor benefitted? COMMENSALISM

Determine the type of symbiosis: Dodder (a plant) attaches to trees and absorbs the water/sugar from the tree. The tree eventually dies. PARASITISM

Determine the type of symbiosis: Sticky burrs from plants stick to deer, allowing them to move to new areas to pollinate. The deer are not hurt. COMMENSALISM

How are predators and parasites similar? Both benefit by harming other organisms.

Which trophic level has the greatest amount of energy/biomass? PRODUCERS

How are food webs different from food chains? Food webs show all feeding relationships in an ecosystem, not just one linear relationship like a food chain.

Which organism is the secondary consumer? Large bird

Assume the large bird eats both sunflowers & small birds. Which food source gives it the most energy? Explain. The sunflower b/c producers contain the most energy (no loss to other trophic levels)

Which of the following receives energy DIRECTLY from the sun? ProducersOR Consumers PRODUCERS

What is the term for a close relationship between two organisms? SYMBIOSIS

Determine the niche and habitat for a polar bear. Niche- Eats fish & seals Habitat- Ice caps in tundra

What type of organism eats only autotrophs? Herbivore/carnivore/omnivore HERBIVORE

What is a synonym for autotroph? PRODUCER

What is a synonym for heterotroph? CONSUMER

PHOTOSYNTHESIS What process do most autotrophs use to create their own food?

What determines the carrying capacity for a population? Limiting factors

Chemosynthesis uses ___________ to create sugars. CHEMICALS

What organisms use chemosynthesis? BACTERIA IN HYDROTHERMAL VENTS

Where does the energy originate in almost every ecosystem? SUN

From this picture, give an example of a population. Many of the same species.

Give an example of a community in this picture. Lions, zebra & elephant populations (different species)

The ecosystem in this picture would include…. Abiotic & biotic factors

Compare biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic = living Abiotic = non-living

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem? Breakdown food and return nutrients to the soil.

What do adaptations allow organisms to do? SURVIVE AND REPRODUCE

Are adaptations willingly developed? NO THEY ARE INHERITED.