Chapter 54: An Introduction to Ecology and Biomes

The distribution of _____, the major types of habitat on Earth, is largely determined by regional climatic conditions.

biomes

abiotic interactions

interactions between organisms and their nonliving environment

biotic interactions

interactions among organisms

The study of how individual organisms deal with abiotic and biotic interactions in their environment is called _____ ecology, while _____ ecology focuses on the interactions of interbreeding groups of individuals of the same species.

organismal; population

What type of organismal ecology investigates how organisms are adapted to their environment, and how much the environment impacts the distribution of species?

physiological

The branch of organismal ecology that studies adaptations of organisms to their environment is ______.

physiological ecology

What are biomes?

the major types of habitats on Earth

What type of organismal ecology examines the effects of individuals on population densities?

behavioral

Interactions among organisms and the living environment are called _____ interactions, and those between organisms and their nonliving environment are termed _____ interactions.

biotic; abiotic

The main objective of studying population ecology is to understand the factors that affect ______.

a population's growth and determine its size and density

The study of the physiological response of an organism to its environment and the impact of the environment on the species distribution is called ______.

organismal ecology

What does physiological ecology investigate?

How organisms are adapted to their environment and how this impacts species distribution.

Understanding species interactions such as predation, competition, and parasitism helps scientists to ______.

- prevent extinctions

- lessen species endangerment

- control invasive species

What are the two subdisciplines of organismal ecology?

behavioral and physiological

The field of biology that focuses on how the behavior of individuals contributes to survival and reproductive success is called _____ ecology.

behavioral

______ ecology focuses on groups of interbreeding individuals in an attempt to understand factors that determine group size and density.

Population

What are reasons for articulating the biotic factors that impact populations?

- Species endangerment may be re-duced.

- Extinction may be stopped.

- Invasive species may be controlled.

Determining the basis of differences in species richness is the focus of _____

ecology.

community

The branch of organismal ecology that studies adaptations of organisms to their environment is _____.

physiological ecology

What types of species interactions are studied in population ecology?

- Parasitism

- Predation

- Competition

The main objective of studying population ecology is to understand the factors that affect _____.

a population's growth and determine its size and density

The study of the physiological response of an organism to its environment and the impact of the environment on the species distribution is called _____.

organismal ecology

How was parasite removal achieved?

microwaving the nests without the birds in them

Understanding species interactions such as predation, competition, and parasitism helps scientists to _____.

- lessen species endangerment

- prevent extinctions

- control invasive species

Community ecological studies focus on how _____.

populations of species interact with each other

The field of population ecology focuses on species interactions including _____ between an

organism and its food, _____ between two organisms in conflict, and parasitism.

predation; competition

A stable community is typically _____.

species-rich

The research compared tits without parasites and tits with. Which were healthier?

parasite-free tits

Succession is _____.

the change in species composition and community structure over time

A community of organisms and its interactions with the physical environment is

referred to as an _____.

ecosystem

The change in species composition and community structure over time, particularly after a disturbance, is called

succession

Levels in the food chain are called ______ levels.

trophic

Why are food chains important when studying the ecology of an ecosystem?

They describe the flow of energy and chemicals.

In general, abiotic factors have powerful effects in most ecological systems. What is an abiotic factor?

salinity

The interacting system of a community of organisms and the physical environment in which they live is called ______.

ecosystem

What abiotic factor amplifies cool temperatures?

wind

What areas of study focuses on the flow of energy, cycling of chemicals, exchange of energy, and exchange of materials between organisms?

ecosystem ecology

In an ecosystem, ______.

chemicals are recycled, but energy dissipates

What abiotic factors limit distribution patterns and abundance of organisms?

- temperature

- salinity

- water

- wind

What abiotic factor affects osmosis in marine and freshwater environments?

salinity

Temperature, wind, precipitation, and light are components of _____, the prevailing weather pattern of a given region.

climate

What field of ecology deals with the flow of energy and cycling of chemicals among organisms?

ecosystem ecology

Variation in temperature as different latitudes of Earth are influenced by _____ energy.

solar

A large naturally occurring community of animals and plants occupying a major habitat is best defined as a _____.

biome

Why are food chains important when studying the ecology of an ecosystem?

They describe the flow of energy and chemicals.

What are broad terrestrial biomes?

- Tropical rain forest

- Tropical deciduous forest

- Tropical grassland

- Tundra

What defines the communities found in Earth's large-scale terrestrial biomes?

climate

What is the definition of climate?

the prevailing weather pattern of a given region

What factor produces the substantial variation in Earth's temperature with latitude?

incoming solar radiation

What are the two major types of biomes?

terrestrial and aquatic

Major types of habitat characterized by distinctive plant and animal life is known as a _____.

biome

How many broad terrestrial biomes are defined by Whittaker's scheme based on average annual temperature and precipitation?

10

Different terrestrial biomes of the Earth are defined by ______.

climate

Temperature, wind, precipitation, and light are components of _____, the prevailing weather pattern of a given region.

climate

A large naturally occurring community of animals and plants occupying a major habitat is best defined as a ______.

biome

What are the broad terrestrial biomes?

- Tropical grassland

- Tundra

- Tropical rain forest

- Tropical deciduous forest

What factors differentiate aquatic biomes?

- water salinity

- current strength

The study of the geographic distribution of extinct and living species is called ______.

biogeography

Factors such as oxygen content, water salinity, current strength, and availability of light are what differentiate _____ biomes.

aquatic