Ecology: Ecosystems and Environment

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following BEST defines ecology?

The study of non-living things
The study of the atmosphere
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment (correct)
The study of rocks and minerals

What is the primary difference between an environment and an ecosystem?

An environment includes only living things, while an ecosystem includes only non-living things.
An environment is where an organism lives, including all abiotic and biotic factors, while an ecosystem focuses on the interactions within that habitat. (correct)
There is no difference between the two.
An ecosystem is larger than an environment.

Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor?

Bacteria
Plants
Animals
Minerals (correct)

Which level of ecology studies individual organisms and their interactions with their environment?

Organismal ecology (B)

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What does population ecology primarily focus on?

The dynamics of a single species within a given area (A)

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What is a community in ecological terms?

All the interacting populations of different species within a given area (D)

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Which level of ecology considers the interactions between organisms AND the abiotic components of an area?

Ecosystem ecology (C)

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What is the biosphere?

All living organisms and all environments on Earth (B)

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Which of these ecological studies would be conducted at the biosphere level?

How human actions affect global temperatures (C)

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In a forest ecosystem, which of the following is NOT part of the ecological community?

The soil (B)

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Flashcards

What is Ecology?

The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

What is an Environment?

The place where an organism lives, including all biotic and abiotic factors.

What is an Ecosystem?

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment functioning as a unit.

Organismal Ecology

Focuses on individual organisms and their interactions with the environment.

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Population Ecology

Studies the dynamics of populations, including density, abundance, and vital rates.

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Community Ecology

Examines the interactions between different species within a defined area.

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Ecosystem Ecology

Studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, including abiotic factors.

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Biosphere Ecology

Studies the entire planet, its living organisms, and environments on a global scale.

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Study Notes

Ecology Defined

Ecology is the study of life, focusing on the diversity of organisms, their interactions, and how they thrive based on environmental conditions.
It examines life in diverse locations, from savannahs and woodlands to oceans and even under rocks.

Environment vs. Ecosystem

An environment is the place an organism lives, including all abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) factors.
An ecosystem includes the interacting factors within a habitat.
A terrestrial habitat can contain multiple ecosystems like grassland and forest ecosystems.
Ecosystems involve interactions such as herbivores eating grass, carnivores consuming herbivores, and decomposition contributing to soil nutrients.

Levels of Ecology

Ecology is studied at multiple scales: organismal, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.

Organismal Ecology

This focuses on individual organisms and their interactions with their environment.
It provides insights into an organism's life history, including reproduction, growth, and development.
Studies can be conducted in the field or in a lab, like observing salamanders on different substrate types.

Population Ecology

This focuses on a specific group of organisms of the same species and identifies population trends.
It provides insights into a species' density, abundance, death rates, birth rates, and migratory rates.
Populations are groups of interbreeding organisms, differing slightly from the statistical definition.

Community Ecology

This expands to include multiple species within a defined area.
A community is defined by the interactions between organisms, including number, type, density and abundance.
Example: a food web of ticks, deer, wolves, vultures, mushrooms, and grasses.

Ecosystem Ecology

This considers interactions between organisms and between organisms and abiotic components.
Example: Beavers building dams and the resulting changes in water flow and availability.
Studies can be conducted at various scales.

Biosphere Ecology

This is the largest scale, encompassing all living organisms and environments on the planet.
It aims to understand how activities affect the planet globally.
Environmental scientists use it to study impacts of human actions on diversity and temperature.