Ecology and Ecosystems Quiz

Ecology & Ecosystems

• Ecology: Study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
• Stewardship: Taking personal responsibility for the care of something.
• Ecosystem: A complex system where living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things interact.
  • Biotic factors: Living organisms (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria).
  • Abiotic factors: Non-living components (e.g., sunlight, water, temperature).

Types of Organisms

• Autotrophs (producers): Organisms that make their own food (e.g., plants using photosynthesis).
• Heterotrophs (consumers): Organisms that cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms for food.
• Detritivores (decomposers): Organisms that break down dead organic matter (e.g., fungi, bacteria).

Commonalities of Living Things

• Grow
• Reproduce
• Produce waste
• Need nutrients
• Move
• Require oxygen

Water as an Abiotic Factor

• Factors affecting water suitability for ecosystems:
  • Water temperature
  • Water acidity
  • Water salinity
  • Water oxygen content
  • Mineral content

Biomes

• Large regions classified by their climate and characteristic wildlife, soil, vegetation.
• Canada's biomes: Boreal Forest, Tundra, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Grassland, Mountain Forest.
• Boreal Forest: Coniferous forests, freshwater bodies, low fertility soil, lots of moss (e.g., caribou, moose, elk).
• Tundra: Cold, windy, limited rainfall, permafrost (e.g., Arctic foxes, polar bears).
• Temperate Deciduous Forest: Deciduous trees, four seasons, moderate sunlight (e.g., rabbits, beavers, raccoons).
• Grassland: Open areas of grasses, grazing animals, frequent fires (e.g., elephants, cheetahs, lions).
• Mountain Forest: Combination of deciduous forest and mountain range, cold, windy, high elevation.

Earth's Spheres

• Lithosphere: Earth's rocky outer layer (crust and uppermost mantle).
• Hydrosphere: Earth's liquid water component (oceans, seas, rivers).
• Atmosphere: Layer of gases surrounding Earth, retained by gravity.
• Biosphere: The part of Earth that supports life, encompassing all living organisms and their environments.

Sustainability

• Sustainability: The ability of an ecosystem to continue interacting and reproducing indefinitely.
• Biodiversity: The variety of life in an ecosystem (higher biodiversity generally means a healthier ecosystem).
• Ecological Balance: A state of equilibrium within a community of organisms (e.g., a mature forest).

Sustainable Practices

• Sustainable logging: Leaving patches of trees standing, planting saplings, promoting forest regeneration.
• Clear-cutting: Cutting down all trees with no plans for regeneration.
• Accountability: Governments should monitor and limit logging, environmental groups and consumers should put pressure on corporations.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Sun: Primary source of energy.
• Photosynthesis: Plants convert light energy into chemical energy (sugar).
• Cellular Respiration: Organisms use oxygen to break down food molecules and release energy.
• Food Chains: Energy is transferred from producers to consumers.

Matter Cycling

• Matter: Cannot be created or destroyed, but can be recycled.
• Water Cycle: Evaporation, condensation, precipitation.
• Carbon Cycle: Photosynthesis, respiration, combustion.
• Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen fixation, decomposition, denitrification.

Nitrogen Cycle Explained

• Nitrogen Fixation: Nitrogen gas (N2) is converted into usable forms (ammonia, nitrates) by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
• Nitrogen in Soil: Nitrates are absorbed by plants for growth.
• Denitrification: Nitrates are converted back to nitrogen gas by dentrifying bacteria, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Test your knowledge about ecology and ecosystems with this quiz. Explore concepts like biotic and abiotic factors, types of organisms, and the responsibilities involved in stewardship. Delve into the interactions between living and non-living components that shape our environment.