Ecology unit 1 test

Deciduous

A ___ forest ecosystem is dominated by broad-leafed trees that drop their leaves each autumn.

Prairie

A___ ecosystem is dominated by dense grasses and flowering herbs.

Canopy

Trees in a forest create dense upper layer called a ___, which shades the forest floor.

Sunlight

Prairie plants grow in open landscapes with maximum exposure to direct ___.

Deep roots

To survive periodic droughts and severe winters, prairie grasses depend on extensive ___ that stretch far below the surface.

Tree roots

Spread outward to support heavy trunks.

Precipitation

Deciduous forests require moderate to high levels of annual ___ to support tree growth, while prairies survive in drier climates with lower average rainfall.

Wildfires

Regular, natural ___ help preserve prairie ecosystems by clearing away dead vegetation, returning nutrients to the soil, and preventing young trees from taking over.

Producers

In both ecosystems, plants act as ___ because they convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

Decomposition

Soil organisms like bacteria and fungi carry out ___, breaking down fallen forest leaves and dead prairie grass to recycle organic matter.

Habitat

The environment wheee an organism naturally resides and obtains the resources (food, shelter, water) for necessary for survival and reproduction.

Abiotic

Non-living parts of an ecosystem that influence living organism such as sunlight, temperature, rocks, and water visibility.

Biotic

The living parts of an ecosystem—such as animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms—as well as their interactions (like predation, competition, and symbiosis) and waste products.

Ecosystem

A complex system where living organisms (biotic factors) and their physical environment (abiotic factor) interact and function together as a unified whole.

Energy

The capacity to perform work within biological systems in ecology, this is studied through the flow of energy through tropic levels.

Consumer

A heterotrphic organism that cannot produce its own food and must feed on producers or other consumers to acquire energy.

Omnivore

An organism that occupies multiple tropics levels by consuming a varied diet consisting of both plant and animal matter.

Decomposer

An organism such as soil bacteria, fungus, or invertebrates that break down complex organic material into superior inorganic substances recycling materials into the ecosystem.

Detritus

Dead organic matter, including fallen leaves, plants parts, and animal waste which serves as a critical energy source for decomposer.

Niche

The specific role, function, and position an organism occupies within its community, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other species.

Fertile

The actual reproductive output. The number of viable offsprings produced by an organism or a population over time.

Nutrients

Chemical elects and compounds that organisms need to live, grow, and reproduce.

Dormant

A temporary state of reduced metabolic activity growth, and development that allows organisms to survive harsh environmental conditions.

Trees drop autumn leaves

Forms a thick leaf litter layer that retains moisture.

Prairie fire burns top foliage

Allows light to reach young prairie shoots and enriches soil.

Multi-layered tree branches

Provides shelter across high, mid, and ground layers.

Deep prairie root systems

Prevents soil erosion during heavy rain or wind.

Saturated

A wetland is an area of land where the soil is ___ with water either permanently or seasonally.

Hydroperiod

The period of time that an ecosystem holds standing water is referred to as its ___.

Fish

General wetlands often feature permanent water, allowing large populations of predatory ___ to live there year-round,

Obligate Species

Organisms that rely exclusively on Verna, pools to complete their lifecycle, such as fairy shrimp are called ____.

Plant

Both general wetlands and vernal pools contain specialized ___ species adapted to thrive in low-oxygen, waterlogged soils.

Amphibian

Both ecosystems serve as vital breeding habitats for ___, such as salamanders, toads, and frogs.

Nutrients

Decomposed in both systems break down organic matter, recycling essential ___ back into the soil and water.

Filter

Both ecosystems store excess rainfall and ___ runoff water, supporting the overall environmental health of the surrounding local ecosystem.

Ephemeral

While standard wetlands can maintain aquatic life continuously, Verna, pools are ___ meaning their wet phase is short -lived and seasonal.

Water table

Disruptions to the local underground ___ can alter water levels in both wetlands and vernal pools, demonstrating how these habitats depend on the surrounding landscapes.