Ecology and Climate Quiz

Ecology and Climate

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment
• Carl Linnaeus was the first to describe ecology as the "economy of nature"
• Abiotic factors impacting biomes include nutrient distribution, climate, and competition for resources
• Hadley cells drive atmospheric circulation at the equator
• A biome is a large regional ecosystem defined by specific soil and climate conditions
• Global precipitation and temperature are driven by ocean currents and nutrient cycling

Productivity and Biodiversity

• The ultimate energy source for the biosphere is electromagnetic radiation
• GPP stands for Gross Primary Production
• Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is calculated as GPP minus respiration
• Tropical rainforests have the highest standing crop biomass
• Tropical regions have high biodiversity due to stability and productivity
• Global terrestrial NPP ranges from 0.1 to 3.2 kg C/m2/year
• Open oceans are limited by nutrient availability

Ecosystems and Dynamics

• Ecosystems are complex, dynamic systems
• Ecosystem dynamics revolve around interconnected interactions
• Feedback is an important aspect of ecosystems involving inputs and outputs
• The Gaia hypothesis suggests the biosphere functions as a self-regulating system
• Competitive exclusion is when one species outcompetes another in a shared niche

Predation, Parasitism, and Mutualism

• Excluding predators from red kangaroo populations results in population increases
• Evolutionary arms races occur between some species, such as bats and moths
• Predator-prey cycles are controlled by both predator control and food availability
• Obligate mutualism requires both species to survive
• Keystone species have large effects on the ecosystem, despite low abundance
• Kelp ecosystems in Alaska can collapse from over-predation
• Species richness increases with increasing habitat size

Invasive Species and Management

• Approximately 5,000 invasive species currently exist in the U.S.
• The Lacey Act prohibits the trade of illegally taken wildlife
• Biological methods can be successful in controlling invasive species, such as with zebra mussels
• Invasive species cost the U.S. approximately $138 billion annually
• The first step in managing invasive species is prevention

Global Dilemmas

• Eutrophication is caused by excess nutrients in water
• Zebra mussels significantly impact aquatic food webs
• "Dead zones" are areas in aquatic ecosystems with low oxygen levels
• Salinization is primarily caused by excessive salt from irrigation
• Invasive species negatively impact ecosystems

Multiple-Choice Quiz

• Coevolution is when predator and prey species evolve simultaneously in response to each other
• Predator/prey cycles typically last approximately 10 years
• Removing predators can sometimes have negative consequences, leading to decreased prey survival rates
• Temperature, predator control, and food availability are important factors affecting hare populations
• Parasitism typically harms the host, sometimes resulting in harm or death

Ecology Questions

• Biotic factors—including nutrients, predator–prey relationships, and dissolved oxygen—influence the environment
• The biosphere encompasses the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and ecosphere
• Net primary productivity (NPP)—the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) and respiration—is a critical ecological concept
• The sun is the primary source of energy for the biosphere
• Ellen Richards played a pivotal role in water quality research

Test your knowledge on ecology and climate interactions, examining the concepts of biomes, abiotic factors, and productivity. Explore how energy flows through ecosystems and the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecological balance. This quiz covers essential topics related to environmental science.