Ecology Chapter 3 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

The branch of biology dealing with interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment is called:

Ecology

The area of Earth where all living things live is called the:

biosphere

All of the members of one species that live in one area are called a(an):

population

Many different populations that live together in a specific area is called:

a community Signup and view all the answers

Where does most of the energy come from in an ecosystem?

as sunlight Signup and view all the answers

An organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to produce its own food is called:

autotroph Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms does NOT require sunlight to live?

Chemosynthetic bacteria Signup and view all the answers

Corn planted in a field that has been previously planted with legumes and then plowed under is likely to be:

more productive because bacteria living on the roots of legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen and bring it into the soil Signup and view all the answers

A diagram that shows all the feeding relationships in an ecosystem is a food:

web Signup and view all the answers

What is it called each time you move up a level in a food web?

trophic level Signup and view all the answers

A bird kills and then eats an insect. Based on its behavior, which terms describe the bird?

Carnivore Signup and view all the answers

Of all the energy an organism has, some is used for the organism's life processes, and the rest is:

stored as fat Signup and view all the answers

A pyramid that shows the amount of living tissue at each trophic level is called:

a numbers pyramid Signup and view all the answers

What animals eat both plants and animals?

omnivores Signup and view all the answers

A snake that eats a frog that has eaten an insect that fed on a plant is a:

third-level consumer Signup and view all the answers

The repeated movement of water between Earth's surface and the atmosphere is called:

the water cycle Signup and view all the answers

How do bacteria change nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia and nitrates?

nitrogen fixation Signup and view all the answers

What is one way that carbon cycles through the biosphere?

photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

How is carbon stored in the biosphere?

underground as fossil fuels and calcium carbonate, as well as the rocks in the oceans as dissolved carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

Nitrogen fixation can be accomplished by:

bacteria that live on the roots of plants called legumes Signup and view all the answers

Organisms need nutrients in order to:

carry out essential life functions Signup and view all the answers

How is the movement of energy different from the movement of nutrients through living systems?

energy flows in one direction and nutrients cycle Signup and view all the answers

What is it called when growth is affected by a lack of nutrients in an ecosystem?

a limiting nutrient Signup and view all the answers

What producer greatly increased in numbers when the wolf was reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park?

Cottonwood Signup and view all the answers

When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone, another carnivore was reduced by as much as 50% to 90%. What animal is this?

Coyote Signup and view all the answers

What was the population of cottonwood trees like BEFORE wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone N.P.?

the young trees were practically non-existent due to elk grazing Signup and view all the answers

In 1995, wolves taken from _____ were brought to Yellowstone N.P. to restore ecological balance to the ecosystem.

Canada Signup and view all the answers

Why has the wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone N.P. been controversial in Montana and Wyoming?

Many people fear wolves and wolves may kill animals on surrounding ranches Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the social order in a wolf pack?

There is an alpha male and alpha female in each pack Signup and view all the answers

How does nitrogen get from plants to animals?

the plants are eaten by animals Signup and view all the answers

Where is most of the nitrogen found in the nitrogen cycle?

in the form of atmospheric nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

Which unit is used to measure the movement of energy through an ecosystem?

kilograms Signup and view all the answers

What types of organisms are decomposers?

bacteria and fungi Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms are NOT photosynthetic?

Leafcutter ants Signup and view all the answers

Ecologists make __________ to study large-scale phenomena, such as Earth's water cycle.

models Signup and view all the answers

In the water cycle, the process of __________ occurs between evaporation and precipitation.

condensation Signup and view all the answers

The water shown flowing over land is called __________.

precipitation Signup and view all the answers

Autotrophs capture energy from sunlight or __________ to produce food.

chemicals Signup and view all the answers

Plant-eating animals such as cows are called __________.

herbivores Signup and view all the answers

Organisms that break down organic matter and return it to the environment are called:

decomposers Signup and view all the answers

The algae at the beginning of the food chain are:

producers Signup and view all the answers

The squid in the food chain are:

consumers Signup and view all the answers

Of the organisms represented, the population in the oceans with the smallest total numbers of individuals is most likely the __________.

shark Signup and view all the answers

In a four-level energy pyramid, if the first level contains 500 kilocalories of energy, the third level will contain approximately __________ calories.

50 Signup and view all the answers

Groundwater, when taken up by the roots of plants, eventually reenters the atmosphere through the leaves of plants by the process of __________.

transpiration Signup and view all the answers

The chemical substances that an organism requires to live are called __________.

nutrients Signup and view all the answers

Living organisms require nitrogen to make __________.

fats and proteins (amino acids) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology Overview

Ecology studies interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environments.
The biosphere encompasses all regions of Earth where living organisms exist.

Populations and Communities

A population consists of individuals of the same species residing in a specific area.
A community is formed by multiple populations interacting in a given area.

Energy in Ecosystems

Most energy in ecosystems originates from sunlight.
Autotrophs can create their own food using sunlight or chemicals.

Trophic Levels and Food Webs

Organisms occupy different trophic levels in food webs, which illustrate feeding relationships in ecosystems.
Each step upward in a food web is known as a trophic level.
Carnivores, such as birds that eat insects, are consumers that rely on other organisms for energy.

Nutrient Cycles

The water cycle involves the continuous movement of water within the environment.
Nitrogen fixation, performed by certain bacteria, converts nitrogen gas to usable forms like ammonia.
Carbon cycles through the biosphere primarily via photosynthesis and is stored underground and in oceanic rocks.

Ecological Succession and Interventions

The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park led to an increase in cottonwood tree populations by controlling elk grazing.
Identified controversies include concerns over wolves harming livestock and public fear of the species.

Nutrient Requirements and Growth Factors

Organisms require nutrients to perform essential life functions; a limiting nutrient restricts growth when unavailable.
Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, recycle organic matter.

Energy Flow vs. Nutrient Cycling

Energy moves in a one-way direction through ecosystems, while nutrients cycle between organisms and the environment.
The energy captured by autotrophs is measured in kilocalories.

Organism Classification

Omnivores consume both plant and animal matter; herbivores are exclusively plant eaters.
Leafcutter ants are a notable example of a non-photosynthetic organism.

Ecosystem Models and Measurements

Ecologists use models to study large-scale ecological phenomena, such as Earth’s water cycle.
The movement of energy is quantitatively analyzed through various pyramids, including numbers and energy pyramids.

Summary of Ecosystem Dynamics

Nutrients are essential for life, aiding in the formation of proteins and fats.
In a hierarchical ecosystem structure, energy diminishes as it moves up trophic levels, underscoring the interconnectedness of all living organisms.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards on Ecology Chapter 3. Learn about key terms such as ecology, biosphere, and population dynamics. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of ecological concepts.