Ecology: Biotic, Abiotic factors and Ecosystems

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Questions and Answers

How does a population exhibiting an S-curve growth pattern respond as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment?

The population growth rate slows down and stabilizes around the carrying capacity.

Explain the 'precautionary principle' in your own words and provide a hypothetical example of its application in environmental management.

The 'precautionary principle' means avoiding actions until the consequences are well understood. An example is thoroughly testing a new pesticide's effects on non-target species before widespread use.

Differentiate between a 'food chain' and a 'food web', and explain why ecosystems typically exhibit food webs rather than simple food chains.

A food chain is a single sequence of organisms through which energy and nutrients pass, while a food web is an interconnected network of food chains. Ecosystems have food webs because most organisms consume and are consumed by multiple species.

Describe the difference between a biotic and an abiotic factor in an ecosystem, providing one example of each.

A biotic factor is a living component. An example is plants. An abiotic factor is a non-living component. An example is sunlight. Signup and view all the answers

How does exponential growth (J-curve) differ from sigmoid growth (S-curve) in populations, and what conditions typically lead to each type of growth pattern?

Exponential (J-curve) growth occurs rapidly without limits until resources deplete, while sigmoid (S-curve) growth slows as it reaches carrying capacity. J-curve happens with unlimited resources; S-curve under environmental constraints. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what is meant by an organism's habitat and how it differs from the organism's niche.

A habitat is the physical environment where an organism lives, while a niche describes the organism's role and interactions within that environment. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a population that exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, and why is this unsustainable in the long term?

When a population exceeds carrying capacity, resources deplete, leading to a population crash due to increased competition, starvation, and disease, and also potentially causing long-term over-exploitation of resources. This is unsustainable because the environment cannot support the overpopulation indefinitely. Signup and view all the answers

Describe what is meant by sustainable development, and how it relates to the concept of carrying capacity.

Sustainable development ensures that resource use meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It relies on not exceeding the carrying capacity to ensure long-term resource availability. Signup and view all the answers

Distinguish between the terms 'population' and 'community' in an ecological context, providing an example scenario to illustrate the difference.

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area. A community is all the different populations of different species living and interacting in the same area. Example: A forest has a deer population and a community consisting of all plants, animals, and fungi. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a 'producer' and a 'consumer' in an ecosystem, and provide an example of each.

A producer, like grass, makes its own food through photosynthesis. A consumer, like a cow, eats other organisms for energy. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Biotisk (Biotic)

All living or once-living components of an environment.

Abiotisk (Abiotic)

All non-living components of an environment.