Ecology Chapter: Organisms and Habitats
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Questions and Answers

Which component best describes the surroundings of a specific organism?

  • Microenvironment (correct)
  • World
  • Habitat
  • Ecosphere

    • The biosphere is divided into two main habitats: marine and freshwater.

    False

    What is the term for the basic unit in a biosphere?

    Biotope

    The three types of habitats in the biosphere are marine, freshwater, and ___ .

    <p>terrestrial</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism is an example of a geobiont?

    <p>Collembolan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following biotic factors to their definitions:

    <p>Competition = The struggle between organisms for the same resources Commensalism = One species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed Predation = One organism preys on another Parasitism = One organism benefits at the expense of another</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Microarthropods have well-developed visual organs.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor does Liebig's law of the minimum emphasize for plant growth?

    <p>Availability of nutrients in minimum quantities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do larvae play in soil ecology?

    <p>Predators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Abiotic factors of an ecosystem include all living organisms.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The organisms that are well adapted to life in the soil and cannot leave this environment are called __________.

    <p>geobionts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following groups of microarthropods with their origin:

    <p>gp1 = Originated in epigeous habitat (above the soil) gp2 = Originated directly in the soil gp3 = Don't have forms in epigeous or aquatic habitat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of ecological niche describes the position of an organism in environmental gradients of temperature, moisture, pH, and soil?

    <p>Hypervolume niche</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In sympatry, species occur in different geographic regions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is competitive exclusion?

    <p>The principle that no two species can persist in the same niche, leading to extinction of one or both.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Species that diverge in sympatry and converge in allopatry are exhibiting _____ displacement.

    <p>character</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following species with their feeding habits:

    <p>Notonecta = Feeds on other animals Corixa = Feeds on decaying vegetation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What adaptive value does character displacement provide?

    <p>Reduce competition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals in overlapping niches show greater survivorship compared to those in non-overlapping niches.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Provide an example of two species that could demonstrate competitive exclusion.

    <p>Two plant species that grow in saline water with different tolerances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    To effectively collect ecological data, one must first find a problem and state their _____ .

    <p>objectives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of the A Horizon in the soil profile?

    <p>It contains a zone of translocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Clay particles are the least important particles in the soil due to their small size.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pH range for maximum soil fertility?

    <p>6 to 7.2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process of __________ is the downward movement of water through the soil, carrying nutrients.

    <p>translocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which substance accumulates due to illuviation?

    <p>Particles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Soil with a high concentration of H+ ions tends to be alkaline.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one benefit of humus in soil.

    <p>Enhances soil's ability to hold moisture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the soil particle types with their size:

    <p>Sand = 2-0.06mm Silt = 0.06-0.002mm Clay = Less than 0.002mm Humus = Organic matter from decaying plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the key rules regarding ecological data collection?

    <p>Ignore statistician</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do soil organisms like earthworms contribute to soil?

    <p>They redistribute minerals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Statistical significance and biological significance refer to the same concept.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ horizon is the topmost layer composed of plants and humus.

    <p>O</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason why ecological data may be considered useless?

    <p>Data not collected at the right season.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The decomposition of organic matter into semi-soluble chemical substances is known as ______.

    <p>humus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms related to soil with their definitions:

    <p>Elevation = Movement of fine mineral particles out of the upper layer of soil Illuviation = Deposition of fine mineral particles in lower soil layers Organic activity = Influence of living organisms in soil development Humus = Organic matter decomposition into semi-soluble substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of data can help save time and money in ecological studies?

    <p>Continuous data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mapping the movement of all killer whales on the Pacific coast is feasible with current technology.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a variable that may not be measured when assessing rabbit populations?

    <p>Predation by foxes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to ecological rules, if data is poorly collected, it is termed ______ in the phrase 'Garbage in, garbage out.'

    <p>poor data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In ecological studies, what does Rule 6 emphasize?

    <p>Measure the possible error for every estimate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Life Organization

    • An organism is a dynamic unit affected by changing environments.
    • The environment includes microenvironments (local surroundings) and macroenvironments (overall physical and biotic conditions).
    • The ecosphere/biosphere is a thin layer of living material around the Earth.
    • A habitat is the place where a specific organism is usually found.
    • The biosphere is the entire area of the Earth containing life.
    • Biotope is the basic unit of the biosphere.
    • Biotopes group together to form biocycles, biospheres, and biochores.
    • Ecosystems include living and non-living components.
    • Biospheres are divided into marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats.

    Structure Aspects of Ecosystem

    • Descriptions of organization.
    • Identification of species types and numbers.

    Functional Aspects of Ecosystem

    • Energy flow.
    • Nutrient cycling.
    • Different habitats are included in the non-living components of an ecosystem.

    Abiotic Factors of the Ecosystem

    • Climate: Solar radiation, temperature, wind, rainfall, and fire.
    • Physical: Light and pressure.
    • Chemical: Acidity and salinity.

    Biotic Factors of the Ecosystem

    • These are the living organisms.
    • Competition: Organisms compete for resources.
    • Neutralism: No interaction between species.
    • Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is unaffected.
    • Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of another.
    • Predation: One species hunts and eats another.
    • Amensalism: One species harms or inhibits another without benefit.

    Limiting Factors

    • Factors affecting organism growth and survival.
    • Liebig's Law of the Minimum: Plant growth depends on the scarcest resource.

    Population and Community

    • Population: Group of individuals of the same species.
    • Community: Group of different populations interacting in the same area.

    Biotic Potential and Environmental Resistance

    • Biotic potential is the ability of a population to increase under ideal conditions.
    • Environmental resistance is the factors that limit population growth.
    • Balance of nature is the interaction between biotic potential and environmental resistance.

    Shelford's Law of Tolerance

    • Organisms have tolerance ranges (minimum and maximum) for environmental factors.
    • Steno: Narrow tolerance range.
    • Eury: Wide tolerance range.

    Two Principles to add to the Law

    • Application to the law under constant conditions.
    • Factor interaction where other factors influence the rate of growth.

    Ecological Niche

    • The functional role of an organism in a community.
    • Types include trophic position, position in environmental gradients (like temperature and moisture), and spatial niche.

    Niche Overlap

    • Two species may occupy overlapping niches.
    • Competition occurs when niches overlap.

    Character Displacement

    • Species diverge in characteristics when they share a habitat.
    • Divergence in similar environments reduces competition.
    • Convergence if species are separated in space reduces competition.

    Soil Biology

    • Study of microbial and faunal activities in soil.
    • Soil life, biota, fauna are significant and include many organisms.
    • Soil invertebrates are classified by size (microfauna, mesofauna, macrofauna, megafauna)
    • Microflora (bacteria, fungi) are also part of the soil.
    • Soil organisms have specific roles, some are temporary, others are part of their life-cycle and others are permanent (Geobionts)
    • Soil organisms have varying functions (soil aeration, nutrient cycling, and organic matter degradation).
    • Soil factors influencing soil community are food availability and diversity of micro-habitats

    Soil Factors, Soil Fauna diversity and health

    • Important factors (agriculture, land-use factors, urbanization, habitat destruction) affect soil diversity.
    • Strategies for improved soil health like decreasing bulk density, increasing soil pore space and increasing water holding capacity.

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    Test your knowledge on various aspects of ecology, focusing on the biosphere, habitats, and organism interactions. This quiz covers biotic and abiotic factors, ecological niches, and specific organism examples relevant to soil and aquatic environments.

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