Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary relationship in mutualism?
What is the primary relationship in mutualism?
Which of the following best describes commensalism?
Which of the following best describes commensalism?
In which scenario does parasitism occur?
In which scenario does parasitism occur?
What distinguishes herbivory from predation?
What distinguishes herbivory from predation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which example best represents the concept of mutualism?
Which example best represents the concept of mutualism?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary ecological role that wolves play in the Yellowstone ecosystem?
What is the primary ecological role that wolves play in the Yellowstone ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect do wolves have on the populations of other species in the ecosystem?
What effect do wolves have on the populations of other species in the ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the presence of wolves indirectly affect the health of rivers in Yellowstone?
How does the presence of wolves indirectly affect the health of rivers in Yellowstone?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a trophic cascade?
What is a trophic cascade?
Signup and view all the answers
Which species are positively affected by the presence of wolves in Yellowstone?
Which species are positively affected by the presence of wolves in Yellowstone?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following correctly defines a food chain?
Which of the following correctly defines a food chain?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about energy transfer in a trophic pyramid is accurate?
Which statement about energy transfer in a trophic pyramid is accurate?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes herbivores from carnivores?
What distinguishes herbivores from carnivores?
Signup and view all the answers
In ecological terms, what is competition primarily focused on?
In ecological terms, what is competition primarily focused on?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement correctly describes the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?
Which statement correctly describes the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary difference between food webs and food chains?
What is the primary difference between food webs and food chains?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best defines 'biomass' in ecological studies?
Which of the following best defines 'biomass' in ecological studies?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Yellowstone Wolves Trophic Cascade
- Wolves, in Yellowstone, don't just kill; they also influence other species, leading to a cascade effect.
- Wolves control deer populations by limiting overgrazing, which stabilizes river banks and improves plant and wildlife populations.
- This demonstrates a trophic cascade, where the presence or absence of a top predator significantly impacts lower trophic levels.
- The effect on rivers demonstrates how wolves influence the regeneration of forests, which stabilizes riverbanks.
- Driving deer out of certain areas changes the soil, which leads to cascade effects throughout the river ecosystem.
Food Web Example
- The Yellowstone food web shows complex interactions among various species, including wolves, deer, beavers, and various plant species.
- The arrows represent the flow of energy as one organism consumes another.
Ecology Notes (11/22)
- Decomposers break matter down and return it to producers, releasing energy as heat.
Ecology Notes (12/2)
- Ecology examines biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in an environment, such as water, pH, terrain, and air.
- Energy flows from autotrophs (producers) to heterotrophs (consumers), ultimately losing energy.
- Consumers are categorized as herbivores (eat plants), carnivores (eat animals), omnivores (eat both plants and animals), or decomposers (decompose dead organic matter).
Ecology Notes (12/4)
- Communities are combinations of populations interacting.
- Competition occurs within and between species. Intraspecific competition occurs within the same species, while interspecific competition occurs between different species.
- Predation is where one organism eats another. Herbivory is a subset of predation involving consumption of plants.
- Symbiosis is a relationship between organisms. Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where both organisms benefit.
Types of Interactions
- Commensalism: One organism benefits, and the other is unaffected (e.g., birds cleaning buffalo).
- Parasitism: One organism benefits, and the other is harmed (e.g., barnacles on a whale, mistletoe on a tree).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the intricate relationships within the Yellowstone ecosystem, particularly the role of wolves as top predators. This quiz dives into how wolves affect deer populations and, consequently, the entire ecosystem through trophic cascades. Learn about food webs and the vital role of decomposers in energy flow.