Biology Review Questions

Study Notes

Abiotic factor: A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as rain.
Biological community: A group of different species interacting with each other in a specific area, such as an owl eating a mouse.
Habitat: The environment in which an organism lives, including living and non-living factors.
Parasitism: A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed, such as a tick on a cat.
Predator-prey relationship: An interaction where one species hunts and feeds on another, such as an owl eating a mouse.
Limiting factors: Environmental factors that restrict the growth or survival of an organism, such as cold temperatures and high winds that prevent tree growth in mountain areas.

Secondary succession: The process of ecosystem recovery in an area where a community has been disturbed, such as weeds and wildflowers growing in a field after a corn crop is harvested.
Pioneer species: The first organisms to colonize a new or disturbed area, such as the first organisms to grow on a new patch of cooled, hardened lava.
Climax community: A stable and mature ecosystem that has reached its final stage of development, such as an old forest that has not had any fire damage in over 200 years.

Rain forest: A biome with the highest biodiversity, characterized by high temperatures and high rainfall.
Tundra: A cold and treeless biome with limited life forms.
Desert: The driest biome, characterized by low rainfall and high temperatures.
Photic zone: The shallow part of the marine biome where sunlight can penetrate, supporting photosynthesis.
Plankton: The base of the marine biome food chain, consisting of small, floating organisms.

Intra-specific competition: Competition between individuals of the same species for resources.
Inter-specific competition: Competition between individuals of different species for resources.
Savanna biome: Characterized by grasslands with scattered trees, and common animal species such as lions, elephants, and giraffes.
Human impact on savannas: Habitat destruction, overgrazing, and fragmentation, which can be addressed through conservation efforts and sustainable land use.
Adaptive mechanisms in desert animals: Specialized physical features, such as camels' humps, and behaviors, such as nocturnal activity, to cope with extreme temperatures and limited water.