Yellowstone Wolves Trophic Cascade
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary relationship in mutualism?

  • One organism is harmed while the other benefits.
  • Both organisms benefit from the interaction. (correct)
  • One organism is unaffected while the other benefits.
  • Neither organism gains any advantage.

Which of the following best describes commensalism?

  • Both organisms benefit equally from the relationship.
  • Both organisms involved are negatively impacted.
  • One organism benefits and the other is unaffected. (correct)
  • One organism primarily preys on the other.

In which scenario does parasitism occur?

  • A fish obtains protection from a shark while eating leftovers.
  • A barnacle attaches to a rock for nutrients.
  • A bird gains food while a buffalo is cleaned.
  • A leech feeds on the blood of a host organism. (correct)

What distinguishes herbivory from predation?

<p>Herbivory involves only plant prey. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example best represents the concept of mutualism?

<p>Water buffalo having birds clean their backs. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary ecological role that wolves play in the Yellowstone ecosystem?

<p>They control the deer population, allowing vegetation to recover. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect do wolves have on the populations of other species in the ecosystem?

<p>Wolves positively affect songbirds and bears while reducing coyote populations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the presence of wolves indirectly affect the health of rivers in Yellowstone?

<p>Wolves drive deer from overgrazed areas, allowing for vegetation growth that stabilizes river banks. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic cascade?

<p>A series of changes in species populations and their interactions triggered by the removal or addition of a top predator. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which species are positively affected by the presence of wolves in Yellowstone?

<p>Grasses, trees, songbirds, and bears. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

<p>They return nutrients to the soil. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly defines a food chain?

<p>A linear sequence of who-eats-who in an ecosystem. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about energy transfer in a trophic pyramid is accurate?

<p>Only about 10% of energy is passed to the next level. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes herbivores from carnivores?

<p>Herbivores obtain energy from plants. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In ecological terms, what is competition primarily focused on?

<p>Acquiring mates and territory. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?

<p>Autotrophs are the primary producers absorbing sunlight. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between food webs and food chains?

<p>Food chains illustrate a single path of energy flow. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'biomass' in ecological studies?

<p>The total mass of organisms at a specific trophic level. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Trophic Cascade

A chain reaction that occurs in an ecosystem when one population changes in size, affecting the populations of other species in the food web.

Yellowstone example

A case study where wolves reintroduction changed river health and forest regeneration.

Food Web

Complex feeding interactions among organisms in an ecosystem, illustrating multiple food chains.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the environment.

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Energy loss as heat

Energy is released into the surroundings as heat when moving through an ecosystem.

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Predation

One organism eats another organism.

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Herbivory

A type of predation where the prey is a plant.

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Symbiosis

Two organisms living in a close relationship.

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Mutualism

Both organisms benefit in a symbiotic relationship.

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Parasitism

One organism benefits, the other is harmed in symbiotic relationship.

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Abiotic factor example

Non-living part of an environment like water, pH, or terrain, and air.

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Flow of energy in an ecosystem

Starts with autotrophs (producers). Moving through herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers. Energy is lost as heat.

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Trophic levels

Organisms' positions in a food chain or web (e.g., producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers).

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Food chain

Shows how energy flows through a simple feeding relationship.

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Intraspecific competition

Competition for resources (like mates, food, or territory) between members of the same species.

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Community

A group of different populations living together in a particular area, interacting with each other.

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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).

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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.

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