Biology Ecology Review Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is ecology?

The scientific study of interactions among and between organisms and their physical environment.

Match the levels of organization from smallest to largest.

Organism = Smallest level of organization Population = Group of individuals of the same species Community = Group of different populations in an area Ecosystem = Community plus physical environment Biome = Group of ecosystems with similar climates Biosphere = The entire planet with all organisms

What defines a population?

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

What is a community?

A group of different populations that live in the same area. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecosystem?

A community of organisms living in the same area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a biome?

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the biosphere?

Our entire planet, with all its organisms and physical environments. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

Links all of the food chains in an ecosystem together. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary producers?

The first producers of energy-rich compounds used by other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Primary producers get their food from which organisms?

Autotrophs. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary producers for land?

Plants. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary producers for water?

Algae. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consumer?

An organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and nutrients. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are types of consumers? (Select all that apply)

Herbivores Signup and view all the answers

What do carnivores do?

They kill and eat other animals. Signup and view all the answers

What are scavengers?

Animals that consume the carcasses of other animals. Signup and view all the answers

What do herbivores obtain their energy from?

Eating plant leaves, roots, seeds, or fruits. Signup and view all the answers

What defines omnivores?

Animals whose diets include a variety of foods, both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What are decomposers?

Organisms that break down and obtain energy from dead organic matter. Signup and view all the answers

Why are decomposers important?

Without decomposers, nutrients would remain locked with dead organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for consumers?

Heterotrophs. Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for autotrophs?

Primary producers. Signup and view all the answers

What are trophic levels?

Each step of a food chain and pyramid. Signup and view all the answers

How much energy is generally passed to each level of a food chain?

10%. Signup and view all the answers

What is the greenhouse effect?

Process in which certain gases capture sunlight energy in Earth's atmosphere as heat. Signup and view all the answers

What is an abiotic factor?

Physical components of an ecosystem; a nonliving part of the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a biotic factor?

Any living thing in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are examples of abiotic factors? (Select all that apply)

Soil type Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are examples of biotic factors? (Select all that apply)

Mushrooms Signup and view all the answers

What is the predator/prey relationship?

An interaction where one animal (the predator) captures and feeds on another animal (the prey). Signup and view all the answers

What happens if there is an increase in predators?

There will not be enough prey for all the predators to survive. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if there is a decrease in predators?

There will be an abundance of prey for the predators to survive. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbiosis?

Any relationship in which two species live closely together. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology Overview

Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their physical environment.

Levels of Organization

Organization levels range from smallest (organism) to largest (biosphere) including:
- Organism
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Biome
- Biosphere

Population

A population consists of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Community

A community is made up of different populations occupying the same area.

Ecosystem

An ecosystem comprises a community of organisms interacting with their environment.

Biome

A biome is defined by a group of ecosystems sharing similar climates and organisms.

Biosphere

The biosphere encompasses the entire planet along with all its organisms and environments.

Food Chains and Food Webs

A food chain details steps where energy transfers through eating and being eaten.
A food web connects all food chains in an ecosystem, showing energy interactions among animals.

Primary Producers

Primary producers are the first energy-rich compound producers; known as autotrophs.
Land primary producers are primarily plants.
Aquatic primary producers are mainly algae.

Consumers

Consumers are organisms that rely on others for energy and nutrients; known as heterotrophs.
Types include:
- Carnivores: kill and eat other animals.
- Scavengers: consume carcasses of dead animals.
- Herbivores: feed on plants.
- Omnivores: eat both plants and animals.
- Decomposers: break down organic matter (e.g., bacteria, fungi).
- Detritivores: consume decomposers in detritus.

Decomposers

Decomposers are critical for nutrient recycling, breaking down dead matter into usable nutrients for ecosystems.

Energy Transfer

Energy transfer between trophic levels in a food chain is approximately 10%.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect involves gases like carbon dioxide and methane trapping sunlight energy as heat in the atmosphere.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Abiotic factors are nonliving environmental components (e.g., sunlight, soil type).
Biotic factors include all living things in an ecosystem (e.g., animals, plants).

Predator/Prey Relationships

Predation occurs when one organism (predator) captures another (prey).
An increase in predator populations leads to diminished prey availability.
A decrease in predator populations results in a surplus of prey.

Symbiosis

Symbiosis refers to a close relationship between two species, which can include mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism.

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Description

Test your knowledge of ecology with these flashcards covering key definitions and levels of organization. Perfect for students looking to review essential concepts in biology. Challenge yourself to remember important terms and their meanings related to ecological interactions.