Questions and Answers
What is ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
What defines a species?
A group of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
What is a population?
Members of a species that live in the same area at the same time.
What is a community in ecology?
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What is an ecosystem?
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What is the biosphere?
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What is a biotic factor?
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What are abiotic factors?
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What is a habitat?
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What are resources in ecology?
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What is the most basic level of ecological organization?
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How can the study of living and nonliving components of a system be described?
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What is community ecology?
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How is a species commonly defined?
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Name some biotic factors.
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Name some abiotic factors.
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Is a fallen, rotting tree considered a biotic or abiotic factor?
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A cloud forest's soil, rocks, leaf litter, humidity, plant life, and seasonal pools of water are all part of a toad's _________.
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Habitats provide organisms with the ___________ they need to live, such as food, shelter, breeding sites, and mates.
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Compare and contrast an ecosystem and a habitat.
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Explain the importance of resources and suitable habitats to an organism.
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What are specific elements of the golden toad's cloud forest habitat?
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Describe the golden toad in terms of population, community, ecosystem, habitat, and resources.
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Why is organization important to ecology?
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Why are dead or decaying organisms still considered important parts of the ecosystem?
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What makes up an organism's habitat?
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What includes ONLY biotic factors?
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How can an abiotic factor affect organisms in an ecosystem?
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Ecology
- Ecology: The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
- Species: Defined as a group of individuals that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
- Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time.
- Community: All populations of different species that live in a particular area and interact with each other.
- Ecosystem: Consists of all living organisms and their physical environment in a specific area.
- Biosphere: The global sum of all ecosystems where life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
- Biotic Factors: Living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.
- Abiotic Factors: Nonliving components that influence an ecosystem, including oxygen, water, sunlight, temperature, and pH levels.
- Rotting Tree: Considered a biotic factor even in death as it was once a living organism.
Habitat and Resources
- Habitat: A specific environment where an organism lives; includes both biotic and abiotic factors.
- Resources: Essential elements that organisms need to survive such as food, water, shelter, and breeding opportunities.
- Importance of suitable habitats: Organisms depend on appropriate habitats and available resources for survival; lack of these can lead to extinction.
Ecosystem and Habitat Comparison
- Ecosystem includes interactions among living and nonliving elements within a specific area while habitat is more focused and defined by the needs of a particular organism.
Community and Ecology
- Community Ecology: The study of interactions among different species within a community; examples include pollination and animal migrations.
- Organization in ecology helps ecologists understand complex relationships in ecosystems.
Role of Decomposers
- Dead or decaying organisms play a crucial role in ecosystems by providing nutrients for decomposers, thereby maintaining the nutrient cycle.
Specific Examples
- Golden Toad: Represents a population found in Monteverde, Costa Rica; its habitat is the cloud forest, and its resources include food, water, and breeding partners.
- Elements of its habitat include soil, rocks, plant life, pools of water, and humidity.
Impact of Environmental Changes
- Abiotic factors like drought can significantly affect ecosystems by harming plant life, which has cascading effects on the community.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding ecological organization is essential for studying interactions within ecosystems.
- Each organism's survival is integrated with the health of its habitat and the availability of necessary resources.
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Description
This quiz explores essential concepts in ecology, including the definitions of species, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere. It also covers the distinction between biotic and abiotic factors that influence these ecological interactions. Test your understanding of these foundational principles of ecological science.
