Podcast
Questions and Answers
What term describes non-living parts of an environment?
What term describes non-living parts of an environment?
- Abiotic (correct)
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Biotic
Which term refers to a group of similar living things that can reproduce?
Which term refers to a group of similar living things that can reproduce?
- Community
- Population
- Ecosystem
- Species (correct)
What is the role of a predator in an ecosystem?
What is the role of a predator in an ecosystem?
- An organism that produces its own food
- A consumer that only eats plants
- A symbiotic organism that benefits another
- An animal that hunts and eats other animals (correct)
Which of the following best describes mutualism?
Which of the following best describes mutualism?
What is a food web?
What is a food web?
Which type of consumer eats only plants?
Which type of consumer eats only plants?
What is the definition of natural selection?
What is the definition of natural selection?
What defines a niche in ecology?
What defines a niche in ecology?
In a parasitic relationship, what is the role of the host?
In a parasitic relationship, what is the role of the host?
Which type of symbiosis benefits one organism while the other is unaffected?
Which type of symbiosis benefits one organism while the other is unaffected?
What does an ecosystem consist of?
What does an ecosystem consist of?
What is an example of a carnivore?
What is an example of a carnivore?
Which type of consumer feeds on both plants and animals?
Which type of consumer feeds on both plants and animals?
What characterizes parasitism in a symbiotic relationship?
What characterizes parasitism in a symbiotic relationship?
What role does natural selection play in ecology?
What role does natural selection play in ecology?
What is a characteristic of a mutualistic relationship?
What is a characteristic of a mutualistic relationship?
Which of the following describes a population?
Which of the following describes a population?
What is the primary function of a food web?
What is the primary function of a food web?
What defines the term 'niche' in the context of ecology?
What defines the term 'niche' in the context of ecology?
What is an example of a mutualistic interaction?
What is an example of a mutualistic interaction?
What best defines the term 'ecology'?
What best defines the term 'ecology'?
Which statement accurately describes 'symbiosis'?
Which statement accurately describes 'symbiosis'?
What is an example of 'commensalism'?
What is an example of 'commensalism'?
Which type of organism is classified as an 'autotroph'?
Which type of organism is classified as an 'autotroph'?
Which term describes the interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed?
Which term describes the interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed?
What role does a 'predator' serve in an ecosystem?
What role does a 'predator' serve in an ecosystem?
Which of the following is an example of a 'herbivore'?
Which of the following is an example of a 'herbivore'?
What is a key characteristic of a 'food web'?
What is a key characteristic of a 'food web'?
What does 'natural selection' lead to in a population?
What does 'natural selection' lead to in a population?
Which of the following statements about 'population' is correct?
Which of the following statements about 'population' is correct?
The study of interactions between organisms and their environment is known as ______.
The study of interactions between organisms and their environment is known as ______.
Living factors that influence an ecosystem are called ______ factors.
Living factors that influence an ecosystem are called ______ factors.
Organisms that make their own food using sunlight or chemical energy are called ______.
Organisms that make their own food using sunlight or chemical energy are called ______.
The process by which plants use light energy to make food is called ______.
The process by which plants use light energy to make food is called ______.
Bacteria that use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates are said to perform ______.
Bacteria that use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates are said to perform ______.
Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms are called ______.
Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms are called ______.
A ______ is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy through eating and being eaten.
A ______ is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy through eating and being eaten.
A ______ is a network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.
A ______ is a network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.
The ______ is an example of an apex predator in the food web.
The ______ is an example of an apex predator in the food web.
A ______ is a diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or organisms at each trophic level.
A ______ is a diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or organisms at each trophic level.
The energy pyramid shows that only about ______ of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next level.
The energy pyramid shows that only about ______ of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next level.
______ is a type of ecological interaction in which two organisms try to use the same resource at the same time.
______ is a type of ecological interaction in which two organisms try to use the same resource at the same time.
Mercury is an example of a ______ that can accumulate in organisms as it moves up the food chain.
Mercury is an example of a ______ that can accumulate in organisms as it moves up the food chain.
Organisms that make their own food through processes like photosynthesis are called ______ .
Organisms that make their own food through processes like photosynthesis are called ______ .
In a food web, primary consumers are also known as ______ .
In a food web, primary consumers are also known as ______ .
The gray squirrels introduced to England successfully competed with the native red squirrels for ______ .
The gray squirrels introduced to England successfully competed with the native red squirrels for ______ .
The ecological ______ involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that it has in its habitat.
The ecological ______ involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that it has in its habitat.
In a symbiotic relationship, ______ benefits both species involved.
In a symbiotic relationship, ______ benefits both species involved.
In parasitism, one organism lives on or inside another organism (host) and ______ it.
In parasitism, one organism lives on or inside another organism (host) and ______ it.
In a commensalism relationship, one member benefits while the other is ______ helped nor harmed.
In a commensalism relationship, one member benefits while the other is ______ helped nor harmed.
A ______ is defined as one that captures and feeds on another organism.
A ______ is defined as one that captures and feeds on another organism.
The ______ captures nutrients and provides shelter or food for other organisms.
The ______ captures nutrients and provides shelter or food for other organisms.
An example of ______ is barnacles attaching to a whale for transportation without harming the whale.
An example of ______ is barnacles attaching to a whale for transportation without harming the whale.
Fleas on a dog are an example of ______, where the parasite benefits at the host's expense.
Fleas on a dog are an example of ______, where the parasite benefits at the host's expense.
Flashcards
Community
Community
All the living things (different species) in a certain area.
Natural Selection
Natural Selection
The process where organisms better suited to their environment survive and reproduce, passing on their traits.
Symbiosis
Symbiosis
A close relationship between two different species where at least one benefits.
Parasitism
Parasitism
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Host
Host
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Consumer
Consumer
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Herbivore
Herbivore
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Omnivore
Omnivore
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Autotroph
Autotroph
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Food Web
Food Web
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What is a population?
What is a population?
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What is a niche?
What is a niche?
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What is parasitism?
What is parasitism?
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What is mutualism?
What is mutualism?
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What is commensalism?
What is commensalism?
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What is a consumer?
What is a consumer?
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What is a herbivore?
What is a herbivore?
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What is a carnivore?
What is a carnivore?
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What is an autotroph?
What is an autotroph?
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What is a food web?
What is a food web?
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What makes up an ecological community?
What makes up an ecological community?
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What is an organism's niche?
What is an organism's niche?
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What is symbiosis?
What is symbiosis?
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What's an example of commensalism?
What's an example of commensalism?
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What are abiotic factors?
What are abiotic factors?
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What is natural selection?
What is natural selection?
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Trophic Levels
Trophic Levels
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Producers (Autotrophs)
Producers (Autotrophs)
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Primary Consumers
Primary Consumers
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Secondary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
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Tertiary Consumers
Tertiary Consumers
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Energy Pyramid
Energy Pyramid
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Rule of 10
Rule of 10
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Competition
Competition
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Ecology
Ecology
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Biotic Factors
Biotic Factors
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Abiotic Factors
Abiotic Factors
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Producers
Producers
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Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
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Food Chain
Food Chain
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Decomposers
Decomposers
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Ecological Niche
Ecological Niche
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Habitat
Habitat
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Predation
Predation
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Mutualism
Mutualism
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Commensalism
Commensalism
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Example of Mutualism
Example of Mutualism
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Example of Commensalism
Example of Commensalism
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Study Notes
Key Ecological Concepts
- Biotic Factors: Living components of an environment (plants, animals, bacteria).
- Abiotic Factors: Non-living components of an environment (sunlight, water, air, soil).
- Species: Groups of similar organisms that can reproduce and create fertile offspring (e.g., cats, oak trees).
- Population: All the members of a species living in a specific area (e.g., all deer in a forest).
- Community: All the different species living and interacting in a particular area (e.g., animals, plants, insects in a pond).
- Ecosystem: A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment (e.g., a coral reef, a desert).
- Ecology: The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Evolutionary Processes
- Natural Selection: The process where organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits.
- Niche: The specific role or function of an organism within its ecosystem (e.g., a bee pollinating flowers).
- Ecological Niche: Involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles it plays in its habitat; includes factors like what it eats, how it gets energy, and how it interacts with other organisms.
- Example: A sunflower's niche includes absorbing sunlight, water, and nutrients, providing shelter and food for other organisms (bees, ants), and releasing oxygen.
Species Interactions
- Predator: An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food (e.g., a lion).
- Prey: An animal that is hunted and eaten by a predator (e.g., a rabbit).
- Symbiosis: A close, long-term relationship between two different species, where at least one benefits.
- Parasitism: One species (parasite) benefits, while the other (host) is harmed (e.g., a tick on a dog).
- Mutualism: Both species benefit from the interaction (e.g., bees and flowers).
- Commensalism: One species benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor helped (e.g., birds nesting in trees).
- Parasite: The organism that benefits in a parasitic relationship (e.g., a flea on a cat).
- Host: The organism that is harmed in a parasitic relationship (e.g., a dog with fleas).
Feeding Relationships
- Food Web: A complex network of interconnected food chains, showing the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem.
- Consumer: An organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms (animals).
- Herbivore: A consumer that eats only plants (e.g., a cow).
- Carnivore: A consumer that eats only meat (e.g., a wolf).
- Omnivore: A consumer that eats both plants and animals (e.g., a bear).
- Autotroph: An organism that produces its own food using sunlight or chemicals (e.g., plants, algae).
- Producer: An organism which creates its own food (e.g., plants). Frequently an autotroph.
- Food Chain: Shows a single chain of energy flow between organisms.
- Example: Grass → Cricket → Frog, → Raccoon.
- Trophic Level: Each step in a food chain or food web representing a level in the feeding hierarchy; Producers (1), Primary Consumers (2nd level herbivores), Secondary consumers (3rd level omnivores or carnivores), tertiary consumers (4th/top level carnivores).
- Ecological Pyramid: A diagram that illustrates the relative amounts of energy or biomass at each trophic level in a community.
- Energy Pyramid: Illustrates the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level; energy decreases with each increasing trophic level (only about 10% is transferred to the next higher trophic level).
- Biomass Pyramid: Represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level; also lessens at each higher trophic level.
- Biomagnification: The increasing concentration of toxins as they move up the food chain, with top consumers experiencing the highest concentrations.
- Competition: When two organisms of the same or different species use resources simultaneously.
- Examples: Food, water, shelter, mates.
- Niche: All the factors necessary for the species survival.
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Description
Test your knowledge on essential ecological concepts, including biotic and abiotic factors, species, populations, communities, and ecosystems. This quiz also covers evolutionary processes like natural selection and niche definition. Perfect for students studying ecology or environmental science.
