Evolution by Natural Selection

What is the primary driving force behind the evolution of a species?

What is the likely outcome when a species divides into two isolated subpopulations?

What is the estimated percentage of species that have gone extinct on Earth?

What is the term for the reciprocal influence of two or more species on each other's evolution?

What is the primary reason for the excess mortality of offspring in a population?

What is the result of natural selection over time?

What is the term for the process by which a species adapts to its environment over time?

What is the role of individual variation in natural selection?

What is the primary characteristic of a mutualistic relationship?

What is the term for the space where interactions occur between a community and the physical environment?

What is the primary role of producers in an ecosystem?

What is the term for organisms that consume both plants and animals?

What is the term for the sequence of energy transfer from one organism to another in an ecosystem?

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

What is the term for the relationship between organisms that live together, but one species is not affected by the other?

What is the term for all interacting species of organisms in an area?

What is the term for the interaction between two organisms striving to obtain the same limited resource?

What is the principle that states no two species can occupy the same ecological niche in the same place at the same time?

Which type of parasite lives on the host's surface?

What is the term for a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not affected?

What is the term for the relationship between two different species that live in close, long-lasting association?

What is the term for an organism that is attacked by a predator?

Which category of symbiotic relationships includes tapeworms and malaria parasites?

What is the term for the process by which a less-fit species evolves into a slightly different niche?

What percentage of useful energy is lost as heat when moving from one trophic level to the next?

What is often used as a proxy to measure the amount of energy in each trophic level?

What is a series of multiple, overlapping food chains?

What is the byproduct of photosynthesis in plants?

What process involves respiration and recycles naturally occurring organic molecules?

What is broken down into simpler molecular building blocks during herbivory?

What is produced as a byproduct during herbivory?

What is the carbon-containing molecule used by plants during photosynthesis?

What is the primary source of phosphorus atoms?

What is the effect of increased phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems?

What is the result of converting forests to agricultural land?

What is the role of decomposers in the phosphorus cycle?

What is the consequence of increased algal growth in aquatic ecosystems?

What is the primary mechanism by which humans increase the amount of nitrogen available to plants?

What is the consequence of applying too much fertilizer to agricultural land?

What is the primary fate of phosphorus compounds released through erosion?

What is the general trend in succession?

What is a characteristic of most aquatic systems?

What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession?

What is likely to happen to the new climax community in secondary succession?

What is an example of how humans have changed 'original' ecosystems?

What happens to the land when farms are abandoned?

What is the result of primary succession in aquatic systems?

What is a characteristic of secondary succession?

What is the characteristic of the euphotic zone?

What is the primary difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?

What is the significance of substrate in benthic ecosystems?

What is characteristic of coral reef ecosystems?

Why are large plants and algae unable to establish themselves in shifting sand substrate?

What is the consequence of a profuse growth of algae in an ecosystem?

What is characteristic of the abyssal ecosystem?

What is the role of scavengers in the abyssal ecosystem?

What is the name given to dead trees that fall to the ground and provide a site for new tree growth?

Which type of birds are common in temperate rainforests?

What is the primary reason for the logging of at least half of the original temperate rainforest?

What is the name of the evergreen coniferous forest found in the southern half of Canada, parts of northern Europe, and much of Russia?

What is the primary adaptation of trees in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?

What is the annual precipitation range in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?

What is the primary reason for the humid climate in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?

What is the common habitat for elk, black tail deer, bears, beavers, and owls?

What type of ecosystem is characterized by shallow water, high salt content, and extensively developed roots?

What is the primary reason for the high productivity of estuaries?

What is the impact of human activities on estuaries?

What is the primary function of coral reefs?

What type of ecosystem is characterized by the presence of freshwater and saltwater?

Why are estuaries important for fish and crustaceans?

What is the impact of fish farming on wild fish?

What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans?

What is the factor that primarily determines the type of climax community that develops?

What is the term for each step in the process of succession?

What is the primary difference between primary and secondary succession?

What is the role of lichens in primary succession?

What characterizes climax communities?

What is the sequence of stages in succession called?

What type of succession begins with the disturbance of an existing ecosystem?

What is the purpose of pioneer communities in primary succession?