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Questions and Answers
What is the term for the part of Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and air?
What is the term for the part of Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and air?
biosphere
What do you call a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring?
What do you call a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring?
species
What is the term for a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area?
What is the term for a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area?
population
What do you call an assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area?
What do you call an assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area?
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What is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment?
What is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment?
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What term describes all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment?
What term describes all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment?
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What do you call a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms?
What do you call a group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms?
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What is any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact called?
What is any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact called?
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What term is used for physical, or nonliving, factors that shape an ecosystem?
What term is used for physical, or nonliving, factors that shape an ecosystem?
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What do you call an organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds?
What do you call an organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds?
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What is the first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms?
What is the first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms?
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What is the process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates?
What is the process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates?
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What is the process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates?
What is the process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates?
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What do you call an organism that obtains food by consuming other living things?
What do you call an organism that obtains food by consuming other living things?
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What term describes an organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply?
What term describes an organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply?
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What is an organism that obtains energy by eating animals called?
What is an organism that obtains energy by eating animals called?
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What term is used for organisms that obtain energy by eating only plants?
What term is used for organisms that obtain energy by eating only plants?
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What do you call an animal that consumes the carcasses of other animals?
What do you call an animal that consumes the carcasses of other animals?
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What is an organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals known as?
What is an organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals known as?
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What do you call an organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter?
What do you call an organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter?
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What is an organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter called?
What is an organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter called?
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What is the term for a series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten?
What is the term for a series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten?
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What are photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean called?
What are photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean called?
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What do you call the network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem?
What do you call the network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem?
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What are small free-floating animals that form part of plankton called?
What are small free-floating animals that form part of plankton called?
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What is each step in a food chain or food web referred to as?
What is each step in a food chain or food web referred to as?
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What is an illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web?
What is an illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web?
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What term describes the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level?
What term describes the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level?
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What are the six different major levels of organization that ecologists commonly study, from smallest to largest?
What are the six different major levels of organization that ecologists commonly study, from smallest to largest?
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Is weather a biotic factor?
Is weather a biotic factor?
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How are biotic and abiotic factors related? What is the difference between them?
How are biotic and abiotic factors related? What is the difference between them?
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Describe the three basic methods of ecological research.
Describe the three basic methods of ecological research.
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Ecology
- Biosphere: The global sum of all ecosystems; it encompasses land, water, and the atmosphere, where life exists.
- Species: A group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
- Population: Individuals of the same species residing in a designated area.
- Community: An assemblage of different populations interacting within a defined area.
- Ecology: The scientific study exploring interactions between organisms and their environment.
- Ecosystem: A system comprising all living organisms and their nonliving surroundings in a specific area.
- Biome: A large ecological area characterized by specific climate conditions and types of organisms.
Organisms and Their Roles
- Biotic Factors: Living components affecting ecosystems (e.g., plants, animals).
- Abiotic Factors: Nonliving environmental elements shaping ecosystems (e.g., climate, soil).
- Autotrophs (Producers): Organisms capable of capturing energy from sunlight or chemicals to create food from inorganic sources.
- Primary Producers: First producers that generate energy-rich compounds utilized by other organisms.
- Photosynthesis: Process where plants convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and carbohydrates.
- Chemosynthesis: Method by which some organisms produce carbohydrates using chemical energy instead of light.
Types of Consumers
- Heterotrophs (Consumers): Organisms obtaining energy by eating other living things.
- Carnivores: Animals that consume other animals for energy.
- Herbivores: Organisms that primarily feed on plants.
- Scavengers: Animals that eat the carcasses of dead animals.
- Omnivores: Organisms that consume both plants and animals for energy.
- Decomposers: Organisms that extract energy from breaking down dead organic matter.
- Detritivores: Organisms feeding on dead matter and decomposing material.
Food Chains and Webs
- Food Chain: A linear sequence illustrating how energy and nutrients flow between organisms via eating relationships.
- Food Web: A complex network showing various feeding interactions among organisms in an ecosystem.
- Phytoplankton: Photosynthetic algae that inhabit surface waters of oceans.
- Zooplankton: Small, drifting animals that form a part of the planktonic community.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
- Trophic Level: Each step in the food chain or web, indicating the position of organisms based on their feeding relationships.
- Ecological Pyramid: A graphical representation depicting the energy or biomass contained at each trophic level.
- Biomass: The total mass of living tissue within a given trophic level, often used to measure the productivity of an ecosystem.
Ecological Research Methods
- Levels of Organization: The hierarchy in ecology includes individual organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.
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Research Methods:
- Observing: Collecting data through direct observation to answer ecological questions.
- Experimenting: Testing hypotheses either in controlled lab settings or within natural environments.
- Modeling: Using mathematical or computational models to explore ecological phenomena and predict outcomes.
Ecological Factors and Phenomena
- Weather: Classified as an abiotic factor affecting living organisms and their environments.
- Relationship between Factors: Biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors are interconnected; both are essential components of ecosystems.
- Modeling Utility: Useful for studying complex ecological issues such as global warming, providing insights that can inform conservation efforts.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of key terms from Biology Chapter 3 with these flashcards. Each card features a word related to the biosphere, species, and populations, along with their definitions. Perfect for studying and reinforcing your understanding.
