Ecology Overview

Questions and Answers

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

To produce energy through photosynthesis

To break down dead material, returning nutrients to the soil (correct)

To eat primary consumers

To interact with other organisms in a community

Energy flows through ecosystems in a circular motion.

False

What is the term for the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships?

Biosphere

A ______________ is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

population Signup and view all the answers

Match the following ecosystem components with their descriptions:

Producers = Organisms that break down dead material Decomposers = Organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis Primary Consumers = Herbivores that eat producers Tertiary Consumers = Top predators that eat secondary consumers Signup and view all the answers

Which process is NOT part of the water cycle?

Nitrification Signup and view all the answers

Tundras are characterized by warm climates and high vegetation.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support called?

Carrying Capacity Signup and view all the answers

Plants absorb carbon dioxide during __________ and convert it into glucose.

photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

Match the following biomes with their characteristics:

Tropical Rainforests = Warm and wet with high biodiversity Deserts = Dry with extreme temperature fluctuations Grasslands = Dominated by grasses with moderate rainfall Aquatic Biomes = Includes freshwater and marine environments Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology Overview

Ecology studies interactions between living organisms and their environments.
Key levels of biological organization include:
- Individual: A single organism.
- Population: A group of individuals of the same species in a specific area.
- Community: Various species populations interacting in a specific area.
- Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with nonliving components.
- Biome: Large regions defined by specific climate conditions, flora, and fauna.
- Biosphere: The global ecological system encompassing all living beings.

Key Terms

Niche: An organism's role in its ecosystem, including resource use and inter-organism interactions.
Habitat: The natural environment where a species lives, e.g., honeybees in gardens and meadows.

Ecosystem Dynamics

Energy in ecosystems flows in one direction: from the sun to producers, then through consumers.
Producers: Organisms, such as plants and algae, that generate energy via photosynthesis.
Primary Consumers: Herbivores that consume producers.
Secondary Consumers: Carnivores that eat primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumers: Top predators feeding on secondary consumers.
Decomposers: Bacteria and fungi that breakdown dead material, recycling nutrients to soil.

Nutrient Cycles

Essential cycles: carbon, nitrogen, and water, crucial for ecosystem health.
Carbon Cycle: Involves carbon transfer among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms through photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen conversion via nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
Water Cycle: Water circulates through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation across the Earth.
Example of Carbon Cycle: Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, converting it into glucose.

Biomes and Habitats

Biomes are vast areas characterized by specific climates, soils, flora, and fauna.
Major biomes include:
- Tropical Rainforests: Warm, wet, and highly biodiverse.
- Deserts: Dry, extreme temperature variations, and adapted organisms.
- Grasslands: Dominated by grasses, moderate rainfall, and occasional droughts.
- Temperate Forests: Seasonal climates with deciduous and evergreen trees.
- Tundras: Cold conditions with permafrost and limited vegetation.
- Aquatic Biomes: Include freshwater (rivers, lakes) and marine (oceans, coral reefs) systems.

Habitats

Specific habitats in each biome provide resources for organisms' survival.
Example of a tropical rainforest habitat: The canopy hosting diverse birds, insects, and mammals, contrasted with the forest floor supporting decomposers and ground-dwelling animals.

Population Ecology

Population dynamics examine how populations change over time.
Influencing factors include birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.
Carrying Capacity: The maximum sustainable population size an environment can support.