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Introduction to Ecology
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Introduction to Ecology

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Questions and Answers

What is a niche in an ecosystem?

  • The geographic area where species are found
  • The total number of species in an ecosystem
  • The role an organism plays in its ecosystem including habitat and food (correct)
  • The climate conditions affecting species survival

    • How does increased biodiversity affect an ecosystem?

  • It creates fewer niches for organisms
  • It allows for more species to coexist and survive (correct)
  • It increases competition for resources among species
  • It reduces the resilience of the ecosystem to changes

    • What is the competitive exclusion principle?

  • More species in an ecosystem increase the competition for resources
  • Species that occupy different niches can coexist without competition
  • Two populations competing for the same resource will lead to one population's extinction (correct)
  • Species have the ability to adapt and share resources equally

    • In resource partitioning, what occurs?

    <p>Similar species share a resource but utilize it differently to avoid competition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributes to a more resilient ecosystem?

    <p>More complex food webs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do tree frogs play in their ecosystem?

    <p>They help limit insect populations and aerate the soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do fewer niches impact species in an ecosystem?

    <p>They increase competition for the same resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary effect of increased biodiversity on competition in an ecosystem?

    <p>It decreases the level of competition among species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of carbon on Earth participates in the carbon cycle?

    <p>Less than 1%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following processes returns carbon to the atmosphere through the breakdown of organic material?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do marine organisms contribute to the carbon cycle?

    <p>Through the creation of shells, which break down after death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?

    <p>Elemental nitrogen (N2)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is nitrogen not immediately usable by living organisms?

    <p>It must be converted into ammonia by bacteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does the use of fertilizers have on nitrogen in ecosystems?

    <p>It can lead to nutrient runoff problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process is involved in converting fossil fuels back into usable carbon?

    <p>Combustion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the potential issue with increasing nitrogen levels in an ecosystem via fertilizers?

    <p>It supports the growth of invasive species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are density independent factors in an ecosystem?

    <p>Abiotic factors that limit growth regardless of population size.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly defines producers?

    <p>Organisms that can make their own food and form the first trophic level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do detritivores play in an ecosystem?

    <p>They feed on dead organisms and decay material.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much energy would be available to the secondary consumer if a producer has 100,000 Calories of energy and 10% transfers up?

    <p>10,000 Calories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between a food chain and a food web?

    <p>A food chain represents a single energy flow, while a food web shows multiple interactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term best describes organisms that consume other organisms for energy?

    <p>Consumers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which label can be assigned to birds in an ecosystem where they consume both seeds and insects?

    <p>Either primary or secondary consumer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>To convert organic material into inorganic substances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of ecology?

    <p>The interactions among living organisms and their environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered the largest 'house' in nature?

    <p>Biosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of ecological organization focuses on a group of organisms of the same species living in a defined area?

    <p>Population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a community from a population in ecological terms?

    <p>A community includes multiple species while a population consists of one species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an ecosystem comprised of?

    <p>Communities and their abiotic environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which outcome best describes a biome?

    <p>A large area with specific climate conditions and living organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following examples represents an ecosystem?

    <p>A lake with fish and aquatic plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of ecology primarily looks at individual organisms?

    <p>Individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the composition of a water molecule?

    <p>2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What property of water allows it to absorb and release heat slowly?

    <p>High specific heat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which percentage of the Earth's water is freshwater?

    <p>2.53%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which property of water refers to its ability to attract to itself?

    <p>Cohesion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What form of carbon is found in the air and is readily available for use by living organisms?

    <p>Carbon dioxide</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What allows water to 'climb' narrow tubes against gravity?

    <p>Cohesion and adhesion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary backbone element in organic compounds?

    <p>Carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which property of water explains its high surface tension?

    <p>Cohesion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Overview of Ecology

    • Ecology studies the interactions of living organisms with one another and their environment.
    • The biosphere is the largest ecosystem, encompassing all regions that support life.

    Levels of Ecology

    • Six ecological scales: individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.
    • The first three levels focus on living components (biotic), while the last three include both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements.

    Levels of Organization

    • Species: Groups of similar organisms capable of breeding and producing fertile offspring.
    • Population: A group of interbreeding individuals of one species within a defined area (e.g., herd of sheep, flock of geese).
    • Community: Groups of various populations living together in a specific area.
    • Ecosystem: Comprises communities and their physical environments, encompassing both living and non-living factors.

    Biodiversity and Niches

    • A niche encompasses an organism's habitat, behaviors, food sources, and predators.
    • Increased niches lead to higher biodiversity, allowing more species to coexist and thrive.
    • Competition arises when species vie for limited resources; the competitive exclusion principle indicates one species may outcompete another.

    Resource Partitioning

    • Similar species can coexist by partitioning resources and utilizing them in ways that minimize competition.

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    • Biogeochemical cycles track the flow of nutrients (e.g., water, carbon, nitrogen) through ecosystems.
    • The movement of these elements is essential for sustaining life.

    Hydrologic Cycle (Water)

    • Water constitutes 97.47% saltwater and 2.53% freshwater, with only 0.79% being liquid.
    • Properties of water include polarity, cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, and it's known as a universal solvent.

    Carbon Cycle

    • Carbon is fundamental for all organic compounds and exists in several forms.
    • It cycles through respiration, erosion, and combustion processes that return CO2 to the atmosphere.
    • Less than 1% of Earth's carbon participates in the carbon cycle.

    Nitrogen Cycle

    • Nitrogen, abundant in the atmosphere, must be converted by bacteria into usable forms for organisms.
    • Fertilizers add nitrogen to ecosystems, impacting growth and biodiversity.

    Trophic Levels and Energy Flow

    • Producers (autotrophs) create their own food, forming the first trophic level.
    • Consumers eat other organisms; can be classified as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
    • Detritivores eat dead organisms, while decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
    • Energy flow through ecosystems is represented by food chains and food webs, indicating how energy moves through different trophic levels.

    Food Chains vs. Food Webs

    • Food chains show simple, linear energy relationships, where energy flows from producers to consumers.
    • Food webs illustrate the interconnected relationships among multiple food chains, reflecting more complexity in energy transfer and species interactions.

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    Scott Unit 1 - Ecology Student Copy (1).pptx

    Description

    This quiz delves into the fundamental concepts of ecology, focusing on the interactions between living organisms and their environment. Discover the importance of the biosphere and how these relationships shape our planet. Test your knowledge of ecological principles and systems.

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