Food Webs and Nutritional Relationships

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Questions and Answers

Which type of vegetation is primarily characterized by lichens and mosses?

Evergreen and pine trees

Beech and sugar maple trees

Aquatic succession

Mosses (correct)

What type of trees are commonly involved in primary succession?

Pine trees (correct)

Birch trees

Beech trees

Sugar maple trees

What is one factor that influences the ecosystem's predator population?

Variety of plant species

Seasonal weather changes

Number and kinds of predators (correct)

Proximity to urban areas

Which of the following is NOT a component of aquatic succession?

Desert flora Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a factor that impacts soil in an ecosystem?

Type of soil Signup and view all the answers

In the context of ecological succession, which type of species are usually the first to colonize a disturbed area?

Pioneer species Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of an ecosystem might affect the average temperature?

Geographical terrain Signup and view all the answers

Which tree type is commonly associated with the characteristics of deciduous forests?

Birch Signup and view all the answers

Which type of succession occurs in an area previously devoid of life due to volcanic eruptions?

Primary succession Signup and view all the answers

What determines the concentration of oxygen in an ecosystem?

Number and types of plants Signup and view all the answers

What do questions 29, 30, and 31 in the given context refer to?

Carrying capacity of the deer population Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the gradual replacement of one plant community by another in a given area?

Succession Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely characteristic of ecosystems in the climax stage of succession?

High diversity and biomass Signup and view all the answers

In ecosystems, which factor typically does not affect the concentration of oxygen?

Soil composition Signup and view all the answers

Which factor would least likely affect the population dynamics of predators in an ecosystem?

Type of vegetation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the impacts of soil type on ecosystems is most accurate?

It affects nutrient availability for plants. Signup and view all the answers

What natural event is described in the context?

Volcanic eruption Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the eruption of Mount St. Helens have on the surrounding area?

It covered the area with ash. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a result of volcanic eruptions typically?

Immediate increase in vegetation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary material that covered the surrounding area during the Mount St. Helens eruption?

Ash Signup and view all the answers

What is often a consequence of ash fall from a volcanic eruption?

Potential respiratory health issues in nearby populations Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is associated with volcanic eruptions like that of Mount St. Helens?

Subduction zones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the term 'biodiversity' in the context of volcanic eruptions?

The overall ecosystem's response to environmental changes following an eruption. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of ash in the ecosystem post-eruption?

It contributes nutrients to the soil over time. Signup and view all the answers

How has the new housing development affected the deer habitat?

It has encroached on the habitat. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of decreased availability of food and shelter for deer?

Decrease in carrying capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'carrying capacity' refer to in the context of a deer population?

The maximum number of individuals the environment can support. Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to happen to the deer population due to the encroachment of the housing development?

The population may decrease due to limited resources. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors contribute to the decline in deer habitat?

Urbanization and housing development. Signup and view all the answers

What are potential impacts on deer if their habitat continues to be developed?

Increased competition among deer for food. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'encroached' imply in relation to the deer habitat?

The habitat is being invaded or reduced. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider the effects of human development on wildlife habitats?

To maintain ecological balance and biodiversity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a food chain?

A linear sequence that represents energy flow among organisms Signup and view all the answers

What factors can influence fish populations in an aquatic ecosystem?

The temperature and oxygen content of the water Signup and view all the answers

Which group of organisms primarily recycles nutrients in an ecosystem?

Decomposers Signup and view all the answers

Which organisms are most likely at the top of a food web?

Top predators Signup and view all the answers

If the population of a grasshopper increases significantly, what is the likely outcome for its predators?

Predator populations may increase due to more food availability Signup and view all the answers

What ecological impact occurs when a keystone species, like the sea otter, declines in population?

Disruption of the food web balance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship among mice, snakes, and hawks?

Mice serve as prey, snakes are predators of mice, and hawks are predators of snakes Signup and view all the answers

Based on the ecosystem described, which statement about energy availability among trophic levels is accurate?

Energy decreases as you move up to higher trophic levels Signup and view all the answers

If a population size remains constant, what can be inferred about birth and death rates?

Birth rates must equal death rates. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios could lead to a stable population size?

Balanced birth and death rates. Signup and view all the answers

In what situation would a population begin to decline?

When birth rates are less than death rates. Signup and view all the answers

What does a scenario of equal birth and death rates imply?

Population size will remain stable. Signup and view all the answers

If death rates increase while birth rates remain unchanged, what is the likely effect on population size?

Population will decline. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition would maintain a constant population size?

Balanced numbers of births and deaths. Signup and view all the answers

How would significantly reduced birth rates affect a population with stable death rates?

The population would decline. Signup and view all the answers

What combination of birth and death rates leads to a sustained population growth?

Higher birth rates compared to death rates. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Food Webs

Energy is transferred from producers to consumers
A scientist studying a coral reef ecosystem would most likely record water temperature and oxygen content, as well as the size and number of fish species.
Decomposers break down dead and decaying plants and animals for nutrients.
Examples of primary consumers in a food web include mice, deer, and crickets.

Nutritional Relationships

Organisms in the diagram that are primary consumers are mouse, deer, and crickets.
An abiotic factor in a lake ecosystem would be fresh water algae, bacteria, and inorganic sediment.

Trophic Levels

Organisms in trophic level 1 perform photosynthesis.
Energy decreases as trophic levels increase.
Trophic level 2 contains secondary consumers.

Food Web Example

Sparrows are omnivores in a food web, consuming berries and other small creatures.
If the grasshopper population in a food web increases, the mice population likely decreases.
If the hawk population decreases, the snake population would probably decrease.
A decrease in the population of one species can impact the entire food web.

Sea Otters and Killer Whales

Sea otters prey on sea urchins, which feed on kelp, vital for fish survival.
The decline of sea otters in western Alaska is related to killer whales increasing their consumption of otters.
Scientists believe this change in diet for the killer whales is due to decreases in the seal and sea lion populations.
The decline in sea otter populations is tied to over-fishing of fish by humans.
Sea lions, polar bears, and killer whales consume fish.

Ecological Succession

Lichens are pioneer species.
Lichens decompose organic matter and form soil from rock.
Lichens transform carbohydrates into fossil fuels, not directly.
Examples of primary succession include recovery after a forest fire or glacier retreat.
Succession involves changes in plant species until a stable system emerges.
A key difference lies in the initial conditions (bare rock for primary, soil for secondary) and speeds of succession.

Plant Communities over time

Plant species that thrive in barren environments, like lichen and mosses, are called pioneer organisms.
Climax communities in some ecosystems consist of trees such as beech and sugar maples.
The sequence of plant communities in a region shows a pattern of succession over time.

Succession

Secondary succession occurs in regions already containing soil.
Succession refers to the series of changes in plant species over time.
Plant seeds and surviving producers play a role in starting new growth after disturbances, such as fires.
Ecosystems are stable through succession with the growth of various plant communities and species.

Populations and Invasive Species

Biotic factors include predators, affecting population sizes.
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain.
A changing environment, like decreased food availability or loss of habitat, can impact carrying capacity.
Introduced species can impact their new environments often disrupting the natural balance of food webs and species competition.

Exponential vs. Logistic Growth

A population experiencing exponential growth typically exhibits unlimited resources available in the environment.
Exponential growth, which shows a J-shaped curve, is not sustainable over time because resources eventually limit growth in an ecosystem.
Population size usually levels off in a logistic growth curve due to limitations like food, space, and predators.

Paramecium

The carrying capacity of P. caudatum when established by itself is 50.
P. aurelia has a carrying capacity of 125 when growing in a combined population with another species.
In a combined population, P. aurelia has a larger population than P. caudatum.

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Description

Explore the intricate connections within ecosystems through this quiz on food webs and trophic levels. Understand the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers, and how energy flows in different environments. This quiz is essential for grasping ecological interactions and the balance of life.