Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following represents a non-living component of an ecosystem?
Which of the following represents a non-living component of an ecosystem?
Which cycle produces fossil fuels?
Which cycle produces fossil fuels?
What is the process called where ammonia is converted into nitrate by soil bacteria?
What is the process called where ammonia is converted into nitrate by soil bacteria?
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
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Which factor is a limiting factor for life in an aquatic zone?
Which factor is a limiting factor for life in an aquatic zone?
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Which among the following is not one of the great spheres of the biosphere?
Which among the following is not one of the great spheres of the biosphere?
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What is the rate at which an ecosystem's producers convert energy into biomass?
What is the rate at which an ecosystem's producers convert energy into biomass?
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Which cycle involves the movement of sulfur through soils, rocks, water, and plants?
Which cycle involves the movement of sulfur through soils, rocks, water, and plants?
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What is the maximum population of a given species that a habitat can sustain indefinitely?
What is the maximum population of a given species that a habitat can sustain indefinitely?
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Which of the following species is a K-selected species?
Which of the following species is a K-selected species?
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The normal, gradual change in species composition in a given geographic area is called _____.
The normal, gradual change in species composition in a given geographic area is called _____.
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What type of species interaction is illustrated by epiphytes in trees?
What type of species interaction is illustrated by epiphytes in trees?
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Which of the following is an R-selected species?
Which of the following is an R-selected species?
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Generally, a species with a high intrinsic rate of increase will _______.
Generally, a species with a high intrinsic rate of increase will _______.
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On land, which factor is often the limiting factor?
On land, which factor is often the limiting factor?
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What is the average number of children born to women in a population during their reproductive years?
What is the average number of children born to women in a population during their reproductive years?
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Which type of forest contains the largest diversity of plant species?
Which type of forest contains the largest diversity of plant species?
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Over the last 100 years, which factor does NOT affect death rates?
Over the last 100 years, which factor does NOT affect death rates?
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Labor shortages and increases in per capita health care costs are associated with _____.
Labor shortages and increases in per capita health care costs are associated with _____.
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Environmental refugees are those who emigrate because of ____.
Environmental refugees are those who emigrate because of ____.
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Which of the following happens when populations of two different species interact over a long period of time?
Which of the following happens when populations of two different species interact over a long period of time?
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Most grasslands are predominantly found in which region?
Most grasslands are predominantly found in which region?
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Which of the following does not represent a type of natural capital degradation to grassland biomes?
Which of the following does not represent a type of natural capital degradation to grassland biomes?
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Temperate shrublands, or chaparral, are often found near which geographic feature?
Temperate shrublands, or chaparral, are often found near which geographic feature?
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What characterizes temperate deciduous forests?
What characterizes temperate deciduous forests?
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Which factors most significantly determine climate?
Which factors most significantly determine climate?
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Which of the following is NOT a repository of sulfur in the sulfur cycle?
Which of the following is NOT a repository of sulfur in the sulfur cycle?
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In the interaction where a caterpillar is eaten by a bird, the bird is classified as a __________.
In the interaction where a caterpillar is eaten by a bird, the bird is classified as a __________.
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Which of the following represents a type of tropical grassland with scattered trees?
Which of the following represents a type of tropical grassland with scattered trees?
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Mountains play an essential ecological role because they can:
Mountains play an essential ecological role because they can:
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Which type of species always has a narrow niche?
Which type of species always has a narrow niche?
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Which legislation restricts international trade in endangered species?
Which legislation restricts international trade in endangered species?
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What is the best example of natural selection?
What is the best example of natural selection?
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What is the first phase of speciation?
What is the first phase of speciation?
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What term describes a species that no longer exists in a specific area but remains in others?
What term describes a species that no longer exists in a specific area but remains in others?
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Which treaty is committed to reducing biodiversity loss and managing genetic resources?
Which treaty is committed to reducing biodiversity loss and managing genetic resources?
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What term describes the small genetic changes that occur in a population?
What term describes the small genetic changes that occur in a population?
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Genetic variability in a population arises through __________.
Genetic variability in a population arises through __________.
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What defines a mass extinction event?
What defines a mass extinction event?
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For natural selection to occur, which statement is true?
For natural selection to occur, which statement is true?
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What distinguishes an endangered species from a threatened species?
What distinguishes an endangered species from a threatened species?
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What are random changes in the genetic code (DNA) called?
What are random changes in the genetic code (DNA) called?
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Which factor did not contribute to the extinction of the passenger pigeon?
Which factor did not contribute to the extinction of the passenger pigeon?
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What term describes habitat fragmentation?
What term describes habitat fragmentation?
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In a stable environment, which type of species is favored due to fewer competitors?
In a stable environment, which type of species is favored due to fewer competitors?
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Which option does NOT describe one of the four processes of evolution?
Which option does NOT describe one of the four processes of evolution?
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What is the best example of a mutualistic relationship?
What is the best example of a mutualistic relationship?
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What occurs if a population overshoots the carrying capacity?
What occurs if a population overshoots the carrying capacity?
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What is implied by the population change formula?
What is implied by the population change formula?
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Which type of succession occurs in disturbed areas that still retain some soil or sediments?
Which type of succession occurs in disturbed areas that still retain some soil or sediments?
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What is a downside of tree plantations that limit biodiversity?
What is a downside of tree plantations that limit biodiversity?
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Which method of tree harvesting is both efficient and costs less but negatively impacts the ecosystem?
Which method of tree harvesting is both efficient and costs less but negatively impacts the ecosystem?
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Which country has established megareserves to preserve a significant portion of its biodiversity?
Which country has established megareserves to preserve a significant portion of its biodiversity?
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What term describes managed grasslands or enclosed meadows that are sustainable if maintained correctly?
What term describes managed grasslands or enclosed meadows that are sustainable if maintained correctly?
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Which of the following is NOT an important economic service provided by forests?
Which of the following is NOT an important economic service provided by forests?
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What type of forest typically contains trees that have regrown after a fire?
What type of forest typically contains trees that have regrown after a fire?
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What is the term for nutritionally-rich conditions found in bodies of water?
What is the term for nutritionally-rich conditions found in bodies of water?
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Which method does NOT lead to more sustainable fresh water usage?
Which method does NOT lead to more sustainable fresh water usage?
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What fraction of fresh water is readily available for human use?
What fraction of fresh water is readily available for human use?
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What term describes pollution sources that are difficult to identify due to their diffuse nature?
What term describes pollution sources that are difficult to identify due to their diffuse nature?
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What calculation assesses the relationship between fresh water availability and human consumption?
What calculation assesses the relationship between fresh water availability and human consumption?
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What is the term for wastewater from bathtubs and sinks?
What is the term for wastewater from bathtubs and sinks?
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What process involves removing salt from ocean water to increase fresh water supply?
What process involves removing salt from ocean water to increase fresh water supply?
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What term describes the total area contributing drainage to a stream or river?
What term describes the total area contributing drainage to a stream or river?
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Study Notes
Ecosystem Components and Interactions
- An ecosystem comprises living organisms and their physical environment.
- The biosphere is the life-supporting portion of Earth.
- Crucial factors for life on Earth are not entropy, but rather interconnected elements like the sun's energy, water, and nutrients.
- Solar energy, mostly converted to infrared, drives ecosystems.
- Dissolved oxygen is a vital limiting factor for aquatic life.
- Producers (like phytoplankton) in open water ecosystems harness energy from the sun.
- Decomposers are detritivores, breaking down organic matter.
- Gross primary productivity measures total energy conversion by producers, while net primary productivity assesses energy stored as biomass by producers.
- The carbon cycle is involved in fossil fuel formation.
Biogeochemical Cycles
- The hydrologic cycle is altered by human activities like over-extraction of water resources, increased fossil fuel use, and wetland degradation.
- The phosphorus cycle does not involve the atmosphere.
- The stratosphere houses the ozone layer.
- The biosphere includes the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere; not the hemisphere.
- Nitrification in soil involves bacterial action converting ammonia to nitrate.
- A biogeochemical cycle summarizes the pathway of particular elements through various reservoirs.
Ecosystem Structure and Function
- Abiotic factors are the non-living components of ecosystems.
- A food chain illustrates the energy flow from a source (sun) through various trophic levels.
- A species' niche is its role, while its habitat is its address.
- Organisms with narrow niches are specialist species, and those with broad niches are generalists.
Evolution and Adaptation
- Natural selection fosters traits enhancing survival and reproduction in a changing environment.
- Speciation begins with geographic isolation leading to reproductive isolation and divergence of gene pools.
- Microevolution encompasses small genetic modifications in populations; macroevolution involves larger, long-term changes potentially leading to new species.
- Mutations and genetic drift cause genetic variability.
- Differential reproduction plays a critical role in natural selection, as organisms with advantageous traits reproduce more successfully.
- In stable environments, specialists have fewer competitors, but generalists fare better during rapid change.
- Three fundamental aspects of natural selection are heritable traits, differential reproduction, and variability within a population.
- Evolution describes changes in a population's genetic makeup over generations, driven by natural selection.
- Macroevolution results in populations incapable of interbreeding with parent populations, defining a new species.
- Geographic isolation allows populations to diverge genetically, potentially leading to speciation.
Population Ecology
- A species' carrying capacity represents its maximum sustainable population size in a habitat.
- J-curves describe exponential population growth, while S-curves describe logistic growth leveling off at the carrying capacity.
- K-selected species typically exhibit slow reproduction rates and raise relatively few offspring; R-selected species reproduce rapidly with many offspring.
- Species with high intrinsic rates of increase tend to be generalists, producing numerous offspring, and often R-selected.
- Limiting factors are elements constraining population growth.
- Ecological succession describes the gradual species replacement in an area following disturbance.
- Primary succession re-establishes life in lifeless areas, whereas secondary succession follows a disturbance in an area previously supporting life.
- Population density refers to the number of individuals in a specific area.
Community Interactions
- Interactions like predation, commensalism (one benefits, other unaffected), and mutualism (both benefit) define communities.
- Interspecific competition occurs when species interact over resources.
- Coevolution occurs when species interact over a long duration, driving reciprocal adaptation.
- Resource partitioning describes how species divide shared resources to reduce competition.
Ecosystems and Human Impact
- A biome describes a major terrestrial region with characteristic organisms adapted to its climate.
- Climate encompasses average temperature and precipitation.
- An eutrophic body of water is one with excessive nutrients and high algal growth. An oligotrophic body of water is one with low nutrients and little algal growth.
- Water pollution sources include point sources (identifiable) and non-point sources (diffuse).
- Desalination of ocean water is a technique to achieve freshwater augmentation.
- Water scarcity stresses, use, and pollution problems result from human activities.
- Important conservation and management activities include water use efficiency/protection, water resource protection/augmentation, water pollution control.
- Protecting ecosystems with natural water storage and reducing waste are important for improving water availability and quality.
Biodiversity, Conservation, and Threats
- Human activities are the leading cause of species endangerment and extinction.
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to reduce biodiversity loss and share genetic resources.
- Biosphere reserves are protected areas intended to preserve biodiversity.
- Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation are major threats to biodiversity.
- "HIPPO" – Habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population (human), overexploitation – are contributing factors to biodiversity loss.
- Overgrazing, unsustainable agriculture, and resource extraction (mining, clearcutting) damage ecosystems.
- Deforestation and habitat fragmentation threaten biodiversity.
- Soil erosion is a significant factor in land degradation.
- Clearcutting reduces biodiversity, increases timber yield but can damage ecosystems.
- Sustainable forestry practices such as selective cutting conserve biodiversity.
Other Relevant Issues
- Colonization/introduction of alien species disrupts the existing food web and ecological balance.
- Exponential population growth is a strong driver for issues such as overuse of resources and habitat destruction contributing to a decline in biodiversity.
Human Population Dynamics
- Birth rates, mortality rates, and migration influence population growth or decline.
- Age structure diagrams can predict future population trends.
- Total fertility rate (TFR) represents the average number of children born per woman in a population.
- Factors influencing human population growth include economic development, healthcare, and family planning.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the key components of ecosystems and their interactions in this quiz. Understand the roles of producers, decomposers, and essential cycles like carbon and hydrologic. Test your knowledge on how various factors influence life on Earth.
