Ecology Unit Review

What is the sequence defined by a food chain?

Energy transfer sequence through organisms: Producer -> Primary Consumer -> Tertiary Consumer -> Decomposer.

What does the energy pyramid diagram illustrate?

Energy flow from one trophic level to the next.

What happens to energy at each trophic level in a food chain?

Energy is lost as heat.

Where do producers obtain their energy?

Producers obtain 100% of their energy from food synthesis.

What does a food web represent?

Complex feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms.

What effect does the overabundance or depletion of organisms have on an ecosystem?

It disrupts the ecosystem by depriving it of natural resources and limiting food options.

What is symbiosis?

Close, ongoing interaction between two organisms.

What are the three types of symbiotic relationships?

Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

What is mutualism? Give an example.

Both species benefit; for example, bees and flowers.

What is commensalism?

One species benefits, and the other is unaffected.

What is parasitism? Give an example.

One species benefits at the expense of the other; for example, tapeworms and humans.

What is carrying capacity?

Maximum population a habitat can sustain.

What are limiting factors?

Abiotic and biotic factors that restrict population size.

What is the first step in the carbon recycling process?

Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 through respiration and combustion.

How do autotrophs contribute to the carbon recycling process?

They absorb CO2 during photosynthesis.

What role do animals and plants play in the carbon recycling process?

They consume plants, incorporating carbon into their bodies.

What happens during decomposition in the carbon recycling process?

Decomposition of animals and plants releases carbon back into the atmosphere.

What is biodiversity?

The variety of species within an ecosystem.

What are some human activities that contribute to biodiversity loss?

Introduction of invasive species, deforestation, overhunting, and greenhouse gas emissions.

What are some initiatives to protect biodiversity?

Environmental protection laws, habitat reconstruction, and reducing carbon emissions through changes in transportation and renewable energy use.