Ecology true or false

Study Notes

Ecology: Study of interrelationships among plants, animals, and their environment.
Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with each other and their environment.
Biosphere: All regions of Earth that support life.
Habitat: Specific environment where a species resides.
Abiotic Factors: Non-living environmental components, such as temperature and water.
Edaphic Factors: Soil-related abiotic factors influencing organisms.
Biotic Factors: Living influences on organisms, including competition and symbiosis.
Environmental Factors: Conditions required for species survival; includes both abiotic and biotic elements.
Adaptations: Traits that enhance an organism's survival within its specific environment.

Feeding Relationships: Availability of food influences population sizes; if a food source is abundant, predator populations increase.
Disease: Populations can decline due to diseases spread by other organisms.
Pollination: Critical for plant reproduction; pollinator scarcity affects seed production and plant populations.
Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria: Essential for soil fertility; found in leguminous plants and restores nitrates.
Decomposers: Break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Climatic Factors: Include temperature, light, and precipitation, affecting habitat suitability.
Water Content: Essential for plant functions like photosynthesis; absorbed by roots.
Air Content: Supplies oxygen; depletion affects plant and microbial growth.
Mineral Content: Vital for plant health; deficiencies lead to growth issues like chlorosis.

Light Penetration: Limits plankton growth to surface waters; less light deeper in aquatic habitats.
Currents: Influence the distribution of organisms; may wash them away.
Wave Action: Physical forces that can damage or displace organisms.
Salinity: Adaptations required to survive in varying salt concentrations.
Oxygen Levels: Generally lower in aquatic environments; specific organisms have adapted to these conditions.

Interdependence: Species rely on each other for survival, exemplified by pollination relationships between plants and pollinators.
Trophic Levels: Hierarchical levels in a food chain:
- Primary Producers: Green plants.
- Primary Consumers: Herbivores.
- Secondary Consumers: Carnivores that eat herbivores.
- Tertiary Consumers: Carnivores that prey on other carnivores.
Food Web: Network of interconnected food chains, illustrating more complex interactions.

Pyramid Shape: Illustrates the number of organisms at each trophic level; typically decreases towards the top due to energy loss (approx. 90% loss).
Inverted Food Pyramid: Occurs when larger organisms support many smaller ones, leading to unusual shapes.

Niche: The role and position of an organism in its environment, including habitat, dietary habits, and interactions with other species.

Natural Pollutants: Includes volcanic eruptions and forest fire smoke.
Types of Pollution:
- Domestic Pollution: Household waste.
- Agricultural Pollution: Pesticides and fertilizer runoff.
- Industrial Pollution: Byproducts causing environmental harm, including acid rain.

Ozone Layer: Essential for blocking harmful UV radiation; composed of O3 molecules.
Causes of Depletion: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from products like spray cans and refrigerants.
Effects: Increased UV leads to health risks (skin cancer, cataracts), crop damage, and disruptions in aquatic ecosystems.
Mitigation Strategies: Reduce CFC usage, switch to HFCs, and properly dispose of CFC-containing appliances.

Challenges: Overfishing, pollution, and usage of inappropriate fishing nets.
Ecological Impact: Pollution diminishes fish populations; larger effects on intertwined aquatic food webs.

Introduction: European rabbits introduced in 1859 led to ecological destruction.
Consequences: Overpopulation caused vegetation loss, soil erosion, and destruction of aquatic habitats.
Control Measures: Included fencing, poisons, and introducing the Myxoma virus; initial success but ultimately not sustainable.