Ecology: Biosphere and Biomes Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a biome primarily characterized by?

The water availability in the ecosystem

The geological formations in the area

The climate patterns unique to the region

The specific geographic area notable for the species living there (correct)

Which of the following components is considered an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

The population of deer

The diversity of plant species

The interaction between predator and prey

The temperature of the environment (correct)

What distinguishes dispersal from vicariance in animal distribution?

Dispersal requires genetic adaptation, while vicariance does not

Dispersal occurs when populations move to new areas, while vicariance is due to environmental changes (correct)

Dispersal is a permanent change in territory, while vicariance is a temporary shift

Dispersal involves climate-induced separation, while vicariance is random movement

Which of the following statements about biogeochemical cycles is true?

Matter is recycled through ecosystems through various biological, geologic, and chemical interactions (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a major terrestrial biome?

Fresh waters (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which process in the water cycle involves the transformation of water vapor directly to ice?

Desublimation (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the carbon cycle, what is one of the primary sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Human emissions (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT part of the nitrogen cycle?

Desublimation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which group of organisms is classified as primary consumers?

Herbivores (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of producers in an ecosystem?

Use sunlight for photosynthesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant method by which plants obtain nitrogen from the environment?

Soil nitrates (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is an example of a carnivore?

Spider (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes is part of the water cycle?

Infiltration (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is classified as an omnivore?

Raccoon (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is primary productivity?

The rate of energy storage per unit of time by plants (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms is a detritivore?

Worms (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a food web illustrate?

Interconnected relationships among various food chains (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does energy transfer between trophic levels occur?

Less energy is transferred to higher trophic levels (B) Signup and view all the answers

What defines an ecological niche?

The species' role and interactions within the ecosystem (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which species is an example of ecological dominance?

Oyster community (D) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes gross productivity in plants?

Total energy storage not available for growth (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic that defines a population?

A group of organisms that share a specific space and belong to the same species. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of species interaction benefits one organism while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

Commensalism (D) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does overcrowding have on animal populations?

It can lead to density-dependent population control. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a density-independent factor affecting population growth?

Extreme weather (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the carrying capacity of an environment?

The limit of population density that the environment can support. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which relationship describes a situation where both organisms benefit from interaction?

Mutualism (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does land contribute to the survival of organisms?

It offers nutrients and resources for both plants and animals. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role does agricultural land play in the environment?

It contributes to food production and resource availability. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biosphere and Distribution of Life on Earth

The biosphere is the thin outer layer of the Earth.
The lithosphere is the rocky part of the Earth's surface.
The hydrosphere is the water part of the Earth's surface.
The atmosphere is the gaseous component of the Earth's surface.

Biome

A biome is a geographic area notable for the species living there.
A biome can be made up of many ecosystems.

Major Terrestrial Biomes

Deciduous forests
Coniferous forests
Tropical rainforests
Grasslands
Tundra
Deserts

Major Aquatic Biomes

Deserts
Fresh waters
Marine waters
Estuaries and Mangroves

Animal Distribution

Animals have two primary ways to be distributed on Earth:
- Dispersal: Population movement from one location to another
- Vicariance: Separation of populations due to environmental and climate changes

Levels of Ecological Organization

Ecosystem
Community
- Population
  - Organism

Ecology

Ecology is the study of the relationship between organisms (plants and animals) in relation to their environment.
The environment is the immediate surroundings of an organism.

Ecosystem Components

The abiotic component of an ecosystem is characterized by its physical parameters.
Abiotic components establish the basic nature of an ecosystem.

Abiotic Components

Inorganic and organic compounds (e.g., water, nitrogen, and carbon cycles; carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins)
Temperature
Light
Moisture
Altitude

Biogeochemical Cycles

Matter moves between ecosystems, biotic and abiotic environments, and organisms.
Biogeochemical cycling involves biological, geologic, and chemical interactions.
The five major biogeochemical cycles are those of Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Water (Hydrologic).

Water Cycle

The water cycle collects, purifies, and distributes water.
Processes include: Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon is a basic constituent of organic compounds (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids).
Living organisms require carbon for respiration, assimilation, and photosynthesis.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen accounts for almost 78% of the atmosphere.
Nitrogen is essential for living organisms, particularly for proteins and nucleic acids.

Biotic Components

Biotic components are the living parts of an ecosystem.
Examples include: Cabbage, pepper, roly polys, spiders, crickets, worms, and bacteria.

Producers

Producers are autotrophs, such as algae and green plants.
They use sunlight for photosynthesis to create their own energy.

Consumers

Consumers, also known as heterotrophs, get their energy from producers.
Major consumer classes include herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores.

Herbivores

Herbivores are primarily consumers or plant-eaters.
Examples include pandas, rabbits, deer, and grasshoppers.

Carnivores

Carnivores are secondary consumers that feed directly on animals.
Examples include bull sharks, Nile crocodiles, Gila monsters, and piranhas.

Omnivores

Omnivores are tertiary-level consumers that feed on herbivores and carnivores.
Examples include pigs and raccoons.

Detritivores

Detritivores eat dead plants and animals (decomposers).
Examples include worms, beetles, bacteria, and fungi.

Energy

Energy flows into ecosystems as sunlight.
Almost all life depends on the conversion of energy into organic compounds.

Production, Food Chain, Food Web and Trophic Level

Production is the energy accumulated by plants during photosynthesis.
Primary productivity is the rate of energy storage by plants.
Gross productivity is the total rate of energy storage.
Plant growth results in biomass accumulation (standing crop).

Food Chain

A food chain describes how energy flows through an ecosystem.
Plants are eaten by consumers, who are then eaten by other consumers.

Food Web

A food web shows the interconnected relationships among various food chains.

Trophic Level

Trophic level is a step in a food chain.
It represents the organism's feeding level in a food chain.

Community

A community is the biotic portion of an ecosystem.
It consists of populations of interbreeding organisms of the same species.

Ecological Dominance

A community is usually dominated by a single group of species.
Dominant species greatly affect the nature of the environment, occupying space that would otherwise be occupied by other species.

Ecological Niche

A niche is an organism's role in the biotic environment.
It includes interactions, relationships, and food needs.

Population

A population is a group of organisms belonging to the same species.
They share a specific area and share unique attributes.

Species Interaction

Competition: When two or more species in the same ecosystem use the same niche.
Predator-prey relationship: Individuals of a predator population kill and eat individuals of a prey population.
Parasite-host relationship: Parasites feed at the expense of their host, often being smaller.
Commensalism: A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits from the relationship without harming the host.
Mutualism: An interaction between species where both species benefit.
Protocooperation: A mutually beneficial interaction, but not essential for survival.

Population Growth

Unrestricted growth occurs when there's ample resources and no competition.
Exponential growth happens when limitations like food and space aren't factors, and the ecosystem approaches its carrying capacity.
The maximum density the environment can support is called its carrying capacity.

Density-Dependent Factors

Density-dependent factors controlling population include overcrowding, limitations on food and space, disease, predation, and stress.

Density-Independent Factors

Density-independent factors include extreme weather, abrupt environmental changes, and hazards of varying severities.

Land

Land supports life, providing habitats and resources like nutrients, water, and food.
Humans depend on land for resources and sustenance.

Types of Land

Agricultural land—Land dedicated to agricultural activities.
Forest land—Land supporting forest ecosystems.
Urban land—Land developed for human settlements.
- These examples contain data like hectares of land use, conversion rates, and forms of degradation of each specific type of land mentioned.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of ecology, including the biosphere and the distribution of life on Earth. This quiz covers major terrestrial and aquatic biomes, as well as animal distribution methods and levels of ecological organization. Test your knowledge on how different ecosystems function and the significance of biodiversity.