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 define ecology as the "economy of nature"
• Abiotic factors impacting biomes include nutrient distribution and climate
• Hadley cells drive atmospheric circulation at the equator
• A biome is defined as the largest regional ecosystems with specific soil and climate conditions
• Global precipitation and temperature are driven by ocean currents
• A desert biome forms in areas with low precipitation and high temperatures
• Salinity is critical for defining aquatic ecosystems
• The Gulf Stream distributes heat from equatorial regions

Productivity and Biodiversity

• The ultimate energy source for the biosphere is electromagnetic radiation
• GPP stands for Gross Primary Production
• NPP (Net Primary Productivity) is calculated as GPP minus Respiration
• Tropical rainforests support the most biomass globally
• Tropical regions have high biodiversity due to stability and productivity
• The range of global terrestrial NPP is 0.1-3.2 kg C/ m²/year

Ecosystems and Dynamics

• A defining characteristic of ecosystems is that they are complex dynamic systems
• Ecosystem dynamics are driven by interactions between species and their environment
• Feedback in ecosystems relates outputs to inputs, amplifying or reducing effects
• Earth is viewed as a self-regulating superorganism within the Gaia Hypothesis
• Climate is driven by atmospheric dynamics

Predation, Parasitism, and Mutualism

• Excluding dingoes increased kangaroo populations significantly; a result of removal of predators
• Co-evolution is the simultaneous evolution of predators and prey in response to each other
• Predator-prey cycles demonstrate an evolutionary "arms race" between bats and moths
• Beneficial mutualisms are an example where both species benefit from the interaction. Both species can survive independently in non-obligate mutualisms

Invasive Species and Management

• Approximately 5,000 invasive species exist presently in the U.S.
• The Lacey Act prohibits the trade in illegally taken wildlife.
• Zebra mussels were successfully controlled
• Invasive species cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars annually.

Global Dilemmas

• Eutrophication is caused by excess nutrients in water.
• Zebra mussels significantly impact aquatic food webs in ecosystems
• "Dead zones" are characterized by low oxygen levels.
• Salinization is caused by excess salts from human activities
• Invasive species negatively impact ecosystems, often causing habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity

Multiple-Choice Quiz; Predation, Ecosystems and Global Dilemmas

• Co-evolution in predator-prey interactions involves simultaneous evolutionary adjustments of both parties in response to each other
• Elton documented the predator-prey cycles that involve lynx and hares lasting around ten years
• Skunks and ducks experiments demonstrated that removing predators does not automatically lead to increases in prey populations; some studies have indeed shown that prey survival may decrease
• Temperature and food availability control hare populations
• Parasitism results in harm or death for the host;

Ecology, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity

• Biotic factors affecting the environment include distribution of nutrients, predator-prey relationships, overall effects of climate, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, current, and tides.
• The biosphere is made up of the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
• The primary energy source powering the biosphere is the sun
• Ellen Richards was a pioneer in environmental chemistry in the late 1800s and early 1900s
• Partitioning in lizard populations is determined by feeding times, temperature, and size
• A biome encompasses all of earth's components; Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere;
• The Keeling curve represents a long-term record of Carbon Dioxide levels.
• Habitat fragmentation from natural and/or human activities decreases biodiversity
• Eutrophication is caused by an excess of nutrients in the water.
• Salinization is caused by excess salts in the soil from improper irrigation

Test your knowledge on the essential concepts of ecology and climate. This quiz covers interactions between organisms, abiotic factors influencing biomes, and the role of primary productivity. Dive into the details of ecosystems, atmospheric circulation, and biodiversity.