Ecology and Ecosystems Overview

What property of the sea otters qualifies them as a keystone species?

Which event is an example of secondary succession?

Place where an organism lives out its life is called ______.

The first organisms that appear after a disaster has occurred is known as the ______.

What is the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce under varying conditions called?

What is a species that exerts strong control on the community structure called?

A tick on a dog is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

Barnacles on a whale is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A clownfish and an anemone have what type of relationship?

What type of succession occurs in an area where no trace of a previous community is present?

What type of succession occurs in an area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances?

How can habitats be described?

What is a range of environmental conditions within which a species can survive and reproduce called?

Keystone Species

Sea otters are classified as a keystone species in Pacific coastal communities.
They maintain diverse populations in their ecosystem, impacting overall community structure.

Succession Processes

Secondary succession involves the re-establishment of small plants and animals after disturbances like forest fires.
Pioneer species are the first to appear following a disaster, initiating ecological recovery.
Primary succession occurs in previously uninhabited areas, with no remnants of a previous community.
Secondary succession takes place in areas that have been partially destroyed but retain some biological elements.

Habitats and Environmental Factors

A habitat is defined as the specific area where an organism lives and acquires resources.
Habitats combine physical (abiotic) and biological (biotic) environmental factors that influence organisms.

Symbiotic Relationships

Parasitism is exemplified by a tick living on a dog, where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.
Commensalism is demonstrated by barnacles on whales, with barnacles benefiting while the whale is not significantly affected.
Mutualism is represented by the relationship between clownfish and anemones, where both species benefit.

Organism Survival and Reproduction

Tolerance refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce under varying environmental conditions.
Each species has a specific range of tolerance, which defines the environmental conditions suitable for its survival and reproduction.

This quiz covers key concepts in ecology, including keystone species like sea otters, processes of succession, habitats, and symbiotic relationships. It explores the dynamic interactions that shape ecosystems and the importance of each component in maintaining biodiversity.