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Questions and Answers
In ecology, ecosystems are composed of organisms, the communities they comprise, and the non-living aspects of their ______.
environment
The four main levels of study in ecology are the organisms, population, community, and ______.
ecosystem
Ecosystem processes are those that sustain and regulate the ______.
environment
Ecological areas of study include topics ranging from the interactions and adaptations of organisms within an ecosystem to the ______ processes that drive the development of those ecosystems.
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Living organisms in ecology include animals, plants, fungi, and ______.
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Biotic factors in ecology refer to all the living things that directly or indirectly affect the ______.
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A nutrient cycle refers to the movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter. The process is regulated by the food web pathways previously presented, which decompose organic matter into inorganic nutrients. Nutrient cycles occur within ________.
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Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, typically from the ________, through photosynthetic organisms, including green plants and algae, through herbivores, to carnivores, and finally decomposers.
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In ecosystems, there is a decrease in the overall energy in each level as you move up the food web. This means that there is much more energy in the ________ level in a food web than at the consumer levels.
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There is more energy at the primary consumer level than at the ________ level in ecosystems.
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A ________ refers to all the populations found in a particular area.
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Population – all members of the same species inhabiting a particular area. This is the definition of a ________.
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PH Each of the prior listed abiotic factors varies in the environment and, as such, may act as a ______ factor, determining the types of organisms that exist in that environment.
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Basic to the study of ______ is the concept of ECOSYSTEM or the interrelatedness of the physical features and organisms occurring in a given area.
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Three systems of interrelation between the biotic and abiotic features of the environment: Action – the physical environment acts on the community in many ways. Reaction – refers to the effects of organisms upon their physical environment. Coaction – refers to the effects on organism has on ______.
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According to Brewer, ACTION, REACTION, and COACTION are the bases for the structure and functioning of the community and the ______.
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ORIGIN AND OR WORD DERIVATION: The term oekologie (ecology) was coined in 1866 by the German biologist, Ernst Haeckel from the Greek oikos meaning ______, 'home' or 'dwelling', and logos meaning 'science' or 'study'.
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HISTORY BEHIND THE WORD ECOLOGY: The German biologist Ernst Haeckel first proposed the word ecology in 1866. If you break down the word ecology to 'eco', which means 'house', and 'logos' which means 'to study', then you can say that ecology is the study of our ______ in the most general sense.
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Study Notes
Ecology Overview
- Ecosystems consist of organisms, communities, and non-living components of their environment.
- Four main levels of ecological study: organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
- Ecosystem processes sustain and regulate the environment.
Areas of Study
- Ecology covers interactions and adaptations of organisms within ecosystems.
- Examines processes driving ecosystem development.
- Living organisms in ecology include animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
- Biotic factors encompass all living entities that affect ecosystems directly or indirectly.
- Abiotic factors include all non-living elements, such as temperature, water, and nutrients, which influence organism existence.
Nutrient Cycles
- Nutrient cycles involve the movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter in living systems.
- Regulated by food webs that decompose organic matter into inorganic nutrients.
- Nutrient cycles occur within ecosystems and are essential for sustaining life.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
- Energy flows unidirectionally through ecosystems, starting from the sun, passing through photosynthetic organisms, herbivores, carnivores, and ending with decomposers.
- Energy diminishes at each trophic level, resulting in greater energy availability at the producer level compared to consumer levels.
Definitions
- A community consists of all populations found in a specific area.
- A population includes all members of the same species inhabiting a designated region.
- Ecosystem studies involve understanding the relationship between biotic and abiotic components.
Interrelation Systems
- Three systems of interrelation between biotic and abiotic features:
- Action: Physical environment influences the community.
- Reaction: Organisms affect their physical environment.
- Coaction: Mutual influence among organisms.
Historical Context of Ecology
- The term "ecology" was introduced in 1866 by German biologist Ernst Haeckel.
- Derived from Greek words "oikos" (home or dwelling) and "logos" (science or study), representing the study of living spaces and their inhabitants.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key points of ecology including ecosystems, organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystem processes. Explore ecological areas of study such as interactions, adaptations, and abiotic processes within ecosystems.
