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Questions and Answers
What is predation in ecological relationships?
What is predation in ecological relationships?
Which of the following best describes intraspecific competition?
Which of the following best describes intraspecific competition?
Which type of ecological relationship occurs when one species benefits at the expense of another?
Which type of ecological relationship occurs when one species benefits at the expense of another?
What does a food web illustrate in an ecosystem?
What does a food web illustrate in an ecosystem?
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What does the term 'trophic level' refer to?
What does the term 'trophic level' refer to?
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What defines a biological community?
What defines a biological community?
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Which interaction is characterized by one organism capturing and killing another?
Which interaction is characterized by one organism capturing and killing another?
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What type of relationship benefits both organisms involved?
What type of relationship benefits both organisms involved?
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In a symbiotic relationship, what is the term used for the organism that harms another?
In a symbiotic relationship, what is the term used for the organism that harms another?
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What is the role of a keystone species in an ecosystem?
What is the role of a keystone species in an ecosystem?
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What is the definition of a population in ecological terms?
What is the definition of a population in ecological terms?
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Which of the following is NOT a mode of feeding behavior mentioned?
Which of the following is NOT a mode of feeding behavior mentioned?
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What encompasses both flora and fauna in a habitat?
What encompasses both flora and fauna in a habitat?
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What do abiotic factors in an ecosystem include?
What do abiotic factors in an ecosystem include?
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What is meant by a species' niche?
What is meant by a species' niche?
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What best describes a community in an ecosystem?
What best describes a community in an ecosystem?
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Which of the following is an example of a niche?
Which of the following is an example of a niche?
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What role does competition play in a community?
What role does competition play in a community?
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Which of the following is NOT considered an abiotic factor?
Which of the following is NOT considered an abiotic factor?
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What is one characteristic that is important for an organism's habitat?
What is one characteristic that is important for an organism's habitat?
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Which statement best describes predation in community interactions?
Which statement best describes predation in community interactions?
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What is a primary reason organisms engage in competition?
What is a primary reason organisms engage in competition?
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Which of the following best describes an outcome of competition among biological species?
Which of the following best describes an outcome of competition among biological species?
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For an ideal community interaction, which factor is essential to observe?
For an ideal community interaction, which factor is essential to observe?
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How do human disturbances typically impact ecosystems?
How do human disturbances typically impact ecosystems?
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Which factors are considered most important in shaping a biotic community?
Which factors are considered most important in shaping a biotic community?
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What factor can limit ecosystem functionality?
What factor can limit ecosystem functionality?
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What might be a consequence of excessive human intervention in ecosystems?
What might be a consequence of excessive human intervention in ecosystems?
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What is the main difference between a food chain and a food web?
What is the main difference between a food chain and a food web?
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In terms of ecosystem health, what role does competition play?
In terms of ecosystem health, what role does competition play?
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What role do producers play in an ecosystem's food chain?
What role do producers play in an ecosystem's food chain?
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What is meant by community dynamics in an ecological context?
What is meant by community dynamics in an ecological context?
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Which statement is true about keystone species?
Which statement is true about keystone species?
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What does primary succession involve?
What does primary succession involve?
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Which of the following contributes to maintaining an ecosystem's equilibrium?
Which of the following contributes to maintaining an ecosystem's equilibrium?
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What often follows a severe environmental disturbance in an ecosystem?
What often follows a severe environmental disturbance in an ecosystem?
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Which of the following components are found in all types of food chains?
Which of the following components are found in all types of food chains?
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What is the primary role of physical, chemical, and biological factors in ecosystems?
What is the primary role of physical, chemical, and biological factors in ecosystems?
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How do human activities typically impact biological communities?
How do human activities typically impact biological communities?
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In the context of natural selection, what is a crucial factor that species interactions influence?
In the context of natural selection, what is a crucial factor that species interactions influence?
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What should be considered before introducing or removing species from a biological community?
What should be considered before introducing or removing species from a biological community?
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What likely results from a unique set of organisms and environmental conditions in a community?
What likely results from a unique set of organisms and environmental conditions in a community?
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Which of the following statements about ecosystem functions is true?
Which of the following statements about ecosystem functions is true?
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What defines the resilience of biological communities according to the factors discussed?
What defines the resilience of biological communities according to the factors discussed?
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What is a possible consequence of failing to understand ecosystem functions?
What is a possible consequence of failing to understand ecosystem functions?
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Study Notes
Biological Communities
- A biological community encompasses all living components in an ecosystem.
- Biota refers to all plant and animal life in a region.
- Predation is a biological interaction where an organism captures and kills its prey.
- Parasitism and micropredation are feeding behaviors included in predation.
- A symbiotic relationship involves a close, long-term interaction between two organisms.
- Both symbionts can be the same or different species.
- Mutualism is a symbiotic interaction where both organisms benefit.
- Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism (parasite) harms another (host).
- Keystone species are vital to an ecosystem's stability, with a disproportionate impact relative to their abundance.
- Robert T. Paine introduced the concept of keystone species in 1969.
- Populations consist of all individuals of the same species.
- Species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
- Communities are composed of all the populations in a given area.
- Ecosystems include the living organisms (community) and nonliving factors (physical and chemical) they interact with.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
- Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem.
- Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem (e.g., light, water, nutrients).
- Organisms need resources (like food, water, space) to survive and reproduce.
- A species' niche is how it lives.
- A species' habitat is the place where it lives.
- Habitat characteristics include climate, food availability, and water.
Community Interactions
- Predation is when one species (predator) consumes another (prey).
- Competition is when organisms strive for the same resources.
- Intraspecific competition occurs among members of the same species.
- Interspecific competition occurs among members of different species.
- Symbiosis is a close relationship where at least one species benefits.
- Mutualism, commensalism and parasitism are three types of symbiosis.
Food Chains and Webs
- A food chain shows the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
- A food web shows the interconnected food chains.
- Trophic levels represent the position of organisms in a food chain.
- A food chain arrangement of organisms based on the order of predation, where one organism consumes another.
Community Structure and Dynamics
- Community structure includes the number and size of populations and their interactions.
- Community dynamics describes how members and interactions change over time.
- Keystone species have an inordinate influence on the community's prevalence, structure, and sometimes biodiversity.
- Community dynamics are changes in structure and composition over time, triggered by environmental disturbances like volcanoes, earthquakes, fires, and climate change.
- Equilibrium communities have relatively constant species numbers and relationships (changing, but numbers remain similar).
- Succession describes the sequential appearance and disappearance of species after a disturbance.
- Primary succession occurs on newly exposed or formed rock; secondary succession is on disturbed land with remnants of previous communities.
Human Impacts
- Human activity is causing a high number of extinctions in recent centuries.
- Human population has dramatically altered the environment.
- Overpopulation, pollution and global warming are negative environmental impacts.
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Description
This quiz explores essential concepts related to biological communities and ecosystems. Topics include interactions such as predation, symbiosis, and the roles of keystone species. Gain insights into the relationships within ecosystems and the importance of biodiversity.
