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Questions and Answers
What is an ecosystem composed of?
What is an ecosystem composed of?
What is the primary purpose of a habitat?
What is the primary purpose of a habitat?
What is the role of a niche in an ecosystem?
What is the role of a niche in an ecosystem?
What can ecosystems be composed of?
What can ecosystems be composed of?
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Why do different species of organisms occupy different niches?
Why do different species of organisms occupy different niches?
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What is a reason why lions and cheetahs can coexist?
What is a reason why lions and cheetahs can coexist?
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What is an example of density-independent factors that can affect population density?
What is an example of density-independent factors that can affect population density?
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What is true about the heron and the egret?
What is true about the heron and the egret?
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What is population density?
What is population density?
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What is an example of a density-dependent factor that can affect population density?
What is an example of a density-dependent factor that can affect population density?
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What is the main role of a niche in an ecosystem?
What is the main role of a niche in an ecosystem?
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What is the primary reason why species in a given ecosystem do not share niches?
What is the primary reason why species in a given ecosystem do not share niches?
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What determines the niche an animal occupies in its ecosystem?
What determines the niche an animal occupies in its ecosystem?
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Why do giraffes not compete with other herbivores for food in the Serengeti ecosystem?
Why do giraffes not compete with other herbivores for food in the Serengeti ecosystem?
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What is the result of competition between organisms that have the same exact needs within an ecosystem?
What is the result of competition between organisms that have the same exact needs within an ecosystem?
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What is the primary function of a food chain in an ecosystem?
What is the primary function of a food chain in an ecosystem?
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What is the source of energy for aquatic plants in a freshwater lake ecosystem?
What is the source of energy for aquatic plants in a freshwater lake ecosystem?
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What happens to the energy contained in aquatic plants when they are eaten by stonefly larva?
What happens to the energy contained in aquatic plants when they are eaten by stonefly larva?
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What is the direction of energy flow in a food chain?
What is the direction of energy flow in a food chain?
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What is the direction of energy flow in a food chain?
What is the direction of energy flow in a food chain?
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What is true about the relationship between organisms in a food chain?
What is true about the relationship between organisms in a food chain?
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What is the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?
What is the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?
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What is the term for organisms that feed on both plants and animals?
What is the term for organisms that feed on both plants and animals?
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What is the trophic level of organisms that feed on secondary consumers?
What is the trophic level of organisms that feed on secondary consumers?
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What is the term for the highest trophic level in a food chain?
What is the term for the highest trophic level in a food chain?
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What do food webs represent in an ecosystem?
What do food webs represent in an ecosystem?
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How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
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What percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food web?
What percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food web?
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Why is energy lost between trophic levels in a food web?
Why is energy lost between trophic levels in a food web?
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What happens to the energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level in a food web?
What happens to the energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level in a food web?
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Study Notes
Ecosystem, Habitat, and Niche
- An ecosystem is the interaction between all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors within a geographic area.
- Ecosystems vary in size, location, and diversity, and are dynamic places made of interrelated and interacting factors.
- A habitat is the natural home or place within an ecosystem that provides the kind of food, water, shelter, and living space an organism needs to survive.
- A niche is the special role an organism plays within its ecosystem, or the very specific conditions it takes advantage of, and different species occupy different niches to minimize competition.
Habitat Examples
- The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is a large open and wooded grassland savanna habitat located in east-central Africa, characterized by a seasonal tropical climate, volcanic ash-based soil, and seasonal fires.
- The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem has a variety of habitats, including grasslands, wooded areas, and wetlands, each with its own unique characteristics and niches.
Niche Examples
- In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, lions hunt wildebeests, while cheetahs hunt smaller prey like antelopes and gazelles, each occupying a different niche.
- Herbivores like wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and antelopes each have their own niche, preferring different types of food, such as short grasses, herbs, shrubs, leaves, or long grasses.
- Giraffes have a unique niche, able to access food that others cannot reach.
Population Density
- In biology, a population is a group of organisms of the same species living within an area.
- Population density refers to the number of species living within a specific size of an area.
- Factors that affect population density include density-dependent factors, such as disease, competition for resources, predation, and environmental degradation, and density-independent factors, such as extreme weather, natural events, fire, pollution, and seasonal weather changes.
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Description
Learn about ecosystems, habitats, and niches in biology, including the interactions between living and non-living factors, habitat examples, and niche examples in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Understand population density and the factors that affect it.
