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Questions and Answers
What is a niche in an ecosystem?
What is a niche in an ecosystem?
How does increased biodiversity affect an ecosystem?
How does increased biodiversity affect an ecosystem?
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
In resource partitioning, what occurs?
In resource partitioning, what occurs?
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Which factor contributes to a more resilient ecosystem?
Which factor contributes to a more resilient ecosystem?
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What role do tree frogs play in their ecosystem?
What role do tree frogs play in their ecosystem?
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How do fewer niches impact species in an ecosystem?
How do fewer niches impact species in an ecosystem?
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What is the primary effect of increased biodiversity on competition in an ecosystem?
What is the primary effect of increased biodiversity on competition in an ecosystem?
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What percentage of carbon on Earth participates in the carbon cycle?
What percentage of carbon on Earth participates in the carbon cycle?
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Which of the following processes returns carbon to the atmosphere through the breakdown of organic material?
Which of the following processes returns carbon to the atmosphere through the breakdown of organic material?
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How do marine organisms contribute to the carbon cycle?
How do marine organisms contribute to the carbon cycle?
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What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?
What is the primary source of nitrogen in the atmosphere?
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Why is nitrogen not immediately usable by living organisms?
Why is nitrogen not immediately usable by living organisms?
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What impact does the use of fertilizers have on nitrogen in ecosystems?
What impact does the use of fertilizers have on nitrogen in ecosystems?
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What process is involved in converting fossil fuels back into usable carbon?
What process is involved in converting fossil fuels back into usable carbon?
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What is the potential issue with increasing nitrogen levels in an ecosystem via fertilizers?
What is the potential issue with increasing nitrogen levels in an ecosystem via fertilizers?
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What are density independent factors in an ecosystem?
What are density independent factors in an ecosystem?
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Which of the following correctly defines producers?
Which of the following correctly defines producers?
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What role do detritivores play in an ecosystem?
What role do detritivores play in an ecosystem?
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How much energy would be available to the secondary consumer if a producer has 100,000 Calories of energy and 10% transfers up?
How much energy would be available to the secondary consumer if a producer has 100,000 Calories of energy and 10% transfers up?
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What is a key difference between a food chain and a food web?
What is a key difference between a food chain and a food web?
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Which term best describes organisms that consume other organisms for energy?
Which term best describes organisms that consume other organisms for energy?
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Which label can be assigned to birds in an ecosystem where they consume both seeds and insects?
Which label can be assigned to birds in an ecosystem where they consume both seeds and insects?
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What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?
What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?
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What is the primary focus of ecology?
What is the primary focus of ecology?
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Which of the following is considered the largest 'house' in nature?
Which of the following is considered the largest 'house' in nature?
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Which level of ecological organization focuses on a group of organisms of the same species living in a defined area?
Which level of ecological organization focuses on a group of organisms of the same species living in a defined area?
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What distinguishes a community from a population in ecological terms?
What distinguishes a community from a population in ecological terms?
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What is an ecosystem comprised of?
What is an ecosystem comprised of?
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Which outcome best describes a biome?
Which outcome best describes a biome?
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Which of the following examples represents an ecosystem?
Which of the following examples represents an ecosystem?
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Which level of ecology primarily looks at individual organisms?
Which level of ecology primarily looks at individual organisms?
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What is the composition of a water molecule?
What is the composition of a water molecule?
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What property of water allows it to absorb and release heat slowly?
What property of water allows it to absorb and release heat slowly?
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Which percentage of the Earth's water is freshwater?
Which percentage of the Earth's water is freshwater?
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Which property of water refers to its ability to attract to itself?
Which property of water refers to its ability to attract to itself?
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What form of carbon is found in the air and is readily available for use by living organisms?
What form of carbon is found in the air and is readily available for use by living organisms?
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What allows water to 'climb' narrow tubes against gravity?
What allows water to 'climb' narrow tubes against gravity?
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What is the primary backbone element in organic compounds?
What is the primary backbone element in organic compounds?
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Which property of water explains its high surface tension?
Which property of water explains its high surface tension?
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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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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.
