Ecology Quiz: Interactions and Organization

Ecology

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
• Key terms include:
  • Biosphere: All living and non-living parts of Earth.
  • Species: Organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
  • Population: Groups of the same species living in an area.
  • Community: Different populations living together.
  • Ecosystems: Living organisms and their environment in a specific area.
  • Biomes: Large geographic areas with similar climates and dominant plant communities.

Interactions and Interdependence

• Organisms within the biosphere interact in complex ways, creating a web of interdependence.
• This interdependence involves biotic and abiotic factors.

Levels of Organization in Ecology

• Species: Organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
• Populations: Groups of individuals of the same species in a specific area.
• Communities: Different populations coexisting in a defined area.
• Ecosystems: Interacting living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in a particular place.
• Biomes: Large geographic areas with similar climates and dominant plant communities.
• Biosphere: The global ecological system integrating all life.

Ecological Methods

• Ecologists use observation, experimentation, and modeling to understand ecological patterns and processes.

Definition and Key Concepts in Ecology

• Ecology: The scientific study of interactions between living things and their environment.
• Biosphere: The combined portions of Earth where life exists.

Ecological Levels of Organization

• Organism: An individual living entity.
• Population: A group of the same species living in one area.
• Community: Different species living together in an area.
• Ecosystem: Living organisms and abiotic components interacting in a specific area.
• Biome: A major regional or global community defined by climate and dominant plant communities.
• Biosphere: The global ecological system integrating all life.

Earth's Four Interconnected Systems

• Hydrosphere: Water on Earth.
• Atmosphere: Air surrounding the Earth.
• Geosphere: The solid Earth's surface.
• Biosphere: The regions supporting life.

Components of Ecosystems

• Biotic Factors: Living organisms.
• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components (e.g., sunlight, temperature, soil).

Energy Sources and Roles in Ecosystems

• Producers (autotrophs): Create their own food (e.g., through photosynthesis).
• Consumers (heterotrophs): Obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
  • Herbivores: Eat only plants
  • Carnivores: Eat only animals
  • Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals
  • Detritivores: Consume dead organic matter
  • Decomposers: Break down organic matter.
• Energy moves through ecosystems via trophic levels (food chains and webs).
  • Producers → Primary Consumers → Secondary Consumers → Tertiary Consumers → Decomposers.
• Biomass Pyramids: Total mass at each trophic level (typically decreasing as you go up).
• Energy transfer is inefficient (approximately 10% at each trophic level).

Weathering and Erosion

• Weathering: Breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface (mechanical or chemical).
• Erosion: Removal of weathered material by natural agents like wind, water, or ice.
• Factors influencing weathering: Rock type, climate, and surface area exposed.

Mass Movements

• Mass movements: Downward movement of weathered materials due to gravity.
• Examples: Landslides, creep, slump, and earthflows.

Global Climate Change

• Evidence: Rising global temperatures, increased greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2).
• Effects: Rising sea levels, ecosystem changes, extreme weather, and species extinction.

Limits to Population Growth

• Density-dependent factors: Competition, predation, parasitism, and disease (intensify with population size).
• Density-independent factors: Weather, natural disasters, and human activities (affect populations regardless of size).

Biodiversity

• Includes ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity.
• Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, pollution, climate change, invasive species, and overexploitation.

Ozone Depletion

• Caused by substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Results in a decrease in the ozone layer's protection, leading to increased UV-B radiation.

Amphibian Decline

• Linked to habitat loss, disease, pollution, and UV-B radiation.

Test your knowledge on the scientific study of ecology, focusing on the interactions among organisms and their environment. Explore key terms such as biosphere, species, population, and community. Understand the levels of organization and the web of interdependence in ecosystems.