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Questions and Answers
What percentage of all species that ever lived are now extinct?
What defines a mass extinction event?
How long ago did the last mass extinction occur?
Where are the most recent fossils found in a rock profile?
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Which creatures are associated with the period before the last mass extinction?
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What is the primary focus of ecology?
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How does the current extinction rate of birds and mammals compare to the background rate?
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What does ecological interconnectivity imply?
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Why is understanding organism distribution important in ecology?
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What vital aspect is highlighted in the definition of ecology?
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The current rates of extinction are said to be comparable to which historical event?
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At what level does ecology operate and is studied?
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What is indicated by the phrase, 'You can never do just one thing' in an ecological context?
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What two sciences does environmental science primarily integrate?
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Which factor is primarily considered when studying biodiversity and its conservation?
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What ecological concept analyzes how different species interact within a specific area?
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Which of the following methods is primarily used to study ecology and its experimental design?
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Which concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of air, water, and land?
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At what level of ecology does the study of individual organisms occur in the nested hierarchy?
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Which of the following areas of ecology focuses specifically on restoring disturbed communities?
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What is the primary goal of Conservation Ecology/Biology?
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In the context of ecology, what does Global Ecology refer to?
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Which level of ecological study involves analyzing interactions among populations?
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Which of the following is an example of interdisciplinary work in ecology?
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What type of ecology studies the interaction of organisms within urban environments?
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How does ecology differ from environmental science?
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What is a population in ecological terms?
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Which of the following best defines a community in ecology?
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What does an ecosystem consist of?
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In ecological terms, which level encompasses all living organisms on Earth and their environments?
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What does a landscape consist of in ecological hierarchy?
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Which level of ecological hierarchy is characterized by interactions between different species?
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What is the correct hierarchy order from smallest to largest in ecology?
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Which level in the ecological hierarchy does not include abiotic components?
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Study Notes
Extinction & Biodiversity
- 99% of species that ever lived are extinct
- Extinction rates vary
- Background: normal extinction rate
- Mass Extinction: a large number of species extinct in a short period of time
- The last mass extinction happened 65 million years ago
- Current extinction rate is 100-1000 times higher than background rate due to human activity
- Present extinction rate is comparable to the dinosaur extinction event
Ecology - Levels of Study
- Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
- Ecology focuses on the distribution and abundance of organisms and the factors influencing them.
- Ecology operates at multiple levels and can be studied in a hierarchical way:
- Individual
- Behavioral Ecology
- Physiological Ecology
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Landscape
- Biosphere
- Individual
New areas in Ecology
- Conservation Ecology/Biology focus on maintaining biological diversity, aiming to protect species and ecosystems.
- Restoration Ecology focuses on repairing damaged ecosystems.
- Global Ecology views the earth as one interconnected system, focusing on how ecosystems interact on a global scale.
- Urban Ecology examines the interaction between organisms and their surroundings in urban environments.
Ecology vs Environmental Science
- Ecology is a scientific field, while Environmental Science is a broader field that incorporates concepts from natural and social sciences.
- Environmental Science addresses how humans impact the environment and focuses on finding solutions to environmental issues.
Course Content
- The link between ecology and evolution
- Community structure and dynamics
- Factors affecting species richness and biodiversity
- Energy flux and nutrient cycling in ecosystems
- Biomes and climate
- Adaptations of animals and plants
- Properties of populations
- Population growth
- Competition, predation and mutualism
- Sustainability
- The biodiversity crisis
- Impact of climate change on biodiversity
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Description
Test your knowledge on the critical topics of extinction and biodiversity. This quiz covers the rates of extinction, the historical context of mass extinctions, and the various hierarchical levels of study in ecology. Understand how human activity impacts current extinction rates and explore new areas such as conservation biology.
