Ecology and Environmental Change

Environment means surroundings. It is the sum total of external components, both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living), events and forces of nature which influence an organism or living entity without becoming its internal constituent.

The two types of factors that influence living organisms in the environment are biotic factors and abiotic factors.

Examples of biotic factors in the environment include animals, plants, forests, fisheries, and birds.

<p>Examples of abiotic factors in the environment include air, water, sunlight, soil, temperature, minerals, energy, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Any change in the environment or ecosystem is called environmental change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some natural causes of environmental changes include forest fire, volcanic eruptions, and an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Human interference as a result of globalization, industrialization in the form of deforestation, and excessive use of fossil fuels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Droughts, forest fires, and volcanic eruptions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Soil, sunlight, water, climate, temperature, humidity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plants, animals, and microbes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The beaks of birds adapted to different feeding habits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Genetic changes are changes in the structure of DNA, the genetic material of an organism, which can result from mutations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An example of genetic adaptation is the development of long necks in giraffes over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two types of adaptations are structural adaptations and behavioral adaptations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An example of a structural adaptation is the variety of toes and claws in birds for different functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An example of a behavioral adaptation is hibernation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Evolutionary rescue refers to the rapid adaptations that occur in a population due to environmental changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Evolutionary rescue can prevent population extinction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An example of evolutionary rescue is the adaptation of plankton to tolerate harmful algal blooms.</p> Signup and view all the answers