Ecology and Biodiversity Quiz

The process where different species compete for the same resources, ultimately leading to one species dominating and the others being excluded.

When species with similar requirements share resources, they divide them up to avoid direct competition.

When species evolve physical or behavioral traits to reduce competition with other species.

The predictable change in the species composition of an ecological community over time, following a disturbance.

The process of succession that begins on a bare substrate, such as volcanic rock or sand.

The process of succession that begins on existing soil, following a disturbance, such as a fire or logging.

Species that are typically found in early stages of succession, often pioneer species that can tolerate harsh conditions.

Species that are typically found in later stages of succession, often slower-growing, shade-tolerant species.

Two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist. The superior competitor will outcompete the other, leading to its local extinction or migration.

Species divide available resources to reduce direct competition, using different resources or using them differently.

Species living together evolve to be more different in traits that reduce competition, compared to when they live apart.

Competitive exclusion decreases biodiversity, while resource partitioning and character displacement promote coexistence and species diversification.

The superior competitor in Competitive Exclusion is determined by its ability to access and utilize resources more efficiently.

Resource partitioning can involve spatial, temporal, or dietary differences between species.

Character displacement can occur due to natural selection, favoring traits that reduce competition.

These competitive dynamics shape community structure and biodiversity, influencing species distribution and resource availability.

When invasive species, like the pine beetle, thrive due to warmer temperatures, they attack and displace native trees, altering forest ecosystems.

Rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, disrupting the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae, leading to habitat loss for marine life and impacting the food chain.

Melting sea ice in the Arctic disrupts the hunting patterns of polar bears and seals, impacting their food availability and reproduction, ultimately disrupting Arctic ecosystems.

Biodiversity loss and altered biotic interactions reduce crucial ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and water purification.

Forests with lower biodiversity are less efficient at absorbing carbon due to species loss, exacerbating climate change.

Ecosystems with limited biodiversity are less resilient to disturbances like storms or droughts, making them vulnerable to environmental stressors.

Wetlands with reduced plant diversity due to climate change are less effective at filtering pollutants, resulting in poorer water quality and habitat loss for aquatic species.

Biodiversity loss and climate change are interconnected, creating a cycle of disruption that negatively affects ecosystems.

Biodiversity enhances an ecosystem's ability to recover from disturbances like fires or droughts.

Biodiversity ensures ecosystem services like flood control and carbon storage continue despite environmental stress.

Different species contribute to more efficient nutrient cycling by performing specialized roles.

Efficient nutrient cycling from biodiversity leads to healthy soil and water, crucial for agriculture and human well-being.

Interactions between species, like those between plants and pollinators, ensure healthy ecosystems that provide resources like timber and food.

Interactions between species, like those in wetlands, filter water and regulate floods, leading to clean water and flood control.

Biodiversity provides aesthetic, recreational, and cultural benefits, enhanced by the unique interactions between species in various habitats.

Disrupted biotic interactions due to declining biodiversity lead to ecosystem service loss, impacting functions like pollination, predation, and symbiosis.

Herbivores consuming plant parts like leaves and stems reduce the amount of plant material available for photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, ultimately hindering growth.

Damage caused by herbivores weakens plants, making them more susceptible to diseases and environmental stresses, potentially leading to their death.

Herbivores can damage or consume flowers, seeds, and reproductive structures, directly impacting a plant's ability to produce offspring.

Some herbivores can indirectly benefit smaller plant species by consuming dominant competitors, allowing them to thrive and diversify the ecosystem.

Plants have evolved physical defenses, like thorns and spines, to deter herbivores from consuming them.

Some plants produce toxic chemicals that make them unpalatable or even harmful to herbivores, deterring their consumption.

Some plants have evolved to mimic the appearance or scent of other plants that are avoided by herbivores.

Plants can also adjust their growth patterns, like producing more leaves after being nibbled, to compensate for herbivory damage.

The first organisms to colonize a habitat, capable of surviving harsh conditions, slowly creating soil for future species.

A stable, mature community, often dominated by large, long-lived species, reached after years of succession changes.

The process of soil being gradually formed from bare rock by the actions of pioneer species, allowing for more complex life forms.

The influence of climate on which species can thrive and the speed at which an ecosystem develops, shaping the climax community.

Human activities like logging, farming, and urbanization can disrupt or redirect the natural course of succession, leading to altered ecosystems.

The gradual replacement of one community of organisms by another, leading to a more complex and diverse ecosystem.