Biology Study Guide for Quiz next class

List the ecological levels of organization from largest to smallest.

Biosphere, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Individual.

What is a population?

A group of organisms of the exact same species living in the same area.

What is an ecological community?

All of the different interacting populations in a specific area.

Can two different species occupy the exact same ecological niche?

No, they will compete for resources until one eliminates the other.

What do the arrows in a food chain represent?

They represent the flow of matter and energy.

Which way do the arrows point in a food web?

They point from the organism being eaten to the organism doing the eating.

How much energy is actually passed up to the next trophic level?

Only 10% of the energy is passed on.

What happens to the 90% of energy that is not passed on?

It is used for daily life processes or lost to the environment as heat.

If producers have 50,000 kcal, how much energy do primary consumers get?

Primary consumers get 5,000 kcal.

If primary consumers have 5,000 kcal, how much do secondary consumers get?

Secondary consumers get 500 kcal.

Why does total biomass decrease at the top of a trophic pyramid?

Because extreme energy loss means there isn't enough energy to support massive populations of top predators.

Why do predator population increases happen slightly after prey population increases?

It takes time for the predators to eat the extra food and reproduce.

What biological process allows trees to pull carbon dioxide gas out of the air?

Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

What do trees turn carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into?

They convert these reactants into energy-rich glucose.

How do trees use glucose to build their physical bodies?

They convert glucose into structural carbohydrates to build wood.

How does some of the carbon from trees end up stored underground?

Dead tree roots and fallen leaves decompose slowly and get buried deep in the soil.