Ecology and Ecosystems Overview

Aquarium Components

• A functioning aquarium does not display a niche.

Community Definition

• A community is a group of different species living together in a specific area.

Habitat vs. Niche

• Habitat describes a physical location, while niche describes a function or role within a habitat.

Biodiversity Measurement

• Biodiversity cannot be reasonably measured in a population.

Succession Definition

• Succession is the replacement of one community by another over time.

Succession Example

• Abandoned farmland returning to forest is an example of ecological succession.

Biome Defining Factors

• Biomes are defined by climate conditions, including average rainfall, latitude, and the types of organisms present.

Climate Determinants

• Temperature and precipitation are the key factors determining a region's climate.

Species Distribution

• The types of species living in an area are largely determined by climate.

Adaptations to Low Precipitation

• Organisms in low-precipitation biomes have adaptations for water conservation.

Biome and Ecosystem Examples

• A temperate forest is a major terrestrial biome, distinct from an estuary.

Biome Species Distribution

• A tropical rain forest is where a majority of land-based species reside.

Highest Precipitation Biome

• The biome receiving the most precipitation is the tropical rainforest.

Bayou Ecosystem Type

• A bayou is an example of a wetland.

Wetland Inhabitants

• Water-loving plants are commonly found in wetlands.

Estuary Definition

• An estuary is where fresh river water mixes with salt ocean water.

Aquatic Ecosystems

• Aquatic ecosystems encompass diverse regions in water bodies.

Trophic Level of Herbivores

• Herbivores are at least in the second trophic level because they feed on plants.

Decomposers

• Worms are decomposers.

Precipitation Transformation

• Precipitation that seeps into the soil becomes groundwater.

Water Cycle Components

• The water cycle involves water movement between the atmosphere, land, and oceans.

Common Components of Biogeochemical Cycles

• All biogeochemical cycles involve the rearrangement of substances, dependence on organisms, and the involvement of living things.

Photosynthesis and Carbon

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use carbon dioxide to build organic molecules.

Element Essential for Life

• All living things are composed of carbon.

Characteristics of Fossil Fuels

• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) are formed from decayed plants, absorb carbon dioxide during formation, release carbon dioxide when burned, and are not a type of decomposer.

Nitrogen Cycle Component

• The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into usable organic compounds by bacteria is a part of the nitrogen cycle, along with nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen Component

• Nitrogen is found in proteins.

Denitrification Process

• Denitrification is the process by which nitrogen gas is exchanged with atmospheric nitrogen by breaking bonds between nitrogen atoms and releasing oxygen into the air, which is different from the exchange involved in burning fossil fuels and forming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Ammonification Process

• Ammonification is the process in the nitrogen cycle that produces ammonia.

Phosphorus Return

• When humans and animals die, phosphorus returns to the soil.

Plant Nutrient from Calcium Phosphate

• Plants absorb phosphate from dissolved calcium phosphate compounds taken from the soil.

Phosphorus Soil Form

• Phosphorus is commonly found in soil and rock as phosphate.

Nitrogen Cycle Summary

• The nitrogen cycle shows how nitrogen from plants and animal waste returns to the soil and later the atmosphere.

Carbon Cycle Summary

• The carbon cycle starts with carbon present in the atmosphere, which is then taken by plants. The plants are eaten by animals which, eventually, decompose, returning the carbon to the atmosphere.

This quiz covers key concepts in ecology, including definitions of community, habitat, and niche, as well as the factors determining biomes and species distribution. Explore ecological succession and the measurement of biodiversity through a series of questions that assess your understanding of these fundamental ideas.