Ecology Flashcards

Ecology Unit Flashcards for Final Exam Review

What is ecology?

The study of interactions between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) parts of the environment.

Give 3 abiotic factors and how they affect ecosystems.

Sunlight (energy), temperature (species survival), water (growth and reproduction).

Give 3 biotic factors and how they affect ecosystems.

Plants (provide food), animals (predation), fungi (decomposers, recycle nutrients).

List the levels of ecological organization from smallest to largest.

Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere

What are the three main types of consumers?

Herbivores (plants), Carnivores (animals), Omnivores (both).

What is a food web?

A diagram showing multiple predator-prey relationships in an ecosystem.

What is mutualism?

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

What is commensalism?

A symbiotic relationship where one benefits and the other is unaffected.

What is parasitism?

A symbiotic relationship where one benefits and the other is harmed.

What is the original source of energy in ecosystems?

The Sun.

What do producers do?

Use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into food.

What do consumers do?

Eat other organisms to gain energy.

What do decomposers do?

Break down dead organisms to recycle nutrients.

What is a trophic level?

The position an organism has in a food chain.

State the 4 main trophic levels.

Producer → Primary Consumer → Secondary Consumer → Tertiary Consumer

What is the 10% rule?

Only 10% of energy moves up to the next level; the rest is lost as heat.

What is a niche?

The role an organism plays in an ecosystem.

What is biodiversity?

The variety of life in an ecosystem.

What factors increase biodiversity?

Stable climate, high energy, nutrients, and more habitats.

What is a biome?

A large ecosystem with its own climate and types of life.

Name 3 terrestrial (land) biomes.

Tropical rainforest, desert, tundra.

What is permafrost and where is it found?

Permanently frozen soil in the tundra biome.

Name 3 aquatic (water) biomes.

Marine (oceans), freshwater (rivers), estuary (where salt and fresh meet).

What are the characteristics of Archaebacteria?

Unicellular, prokaryotic, extremophiles (hot springs, acid, salt).

What are the characteristics of Eubacteria?

Unicellular, prokaryotic, normal bacteria, some helpful (like in digestion).

What are the characteristics of Protista?

Mostly unicellular, eukaryotic, some photosynthetic, some move.

What are the characteristics of Fungi?

Mostly multicellular, eukaryotic, absorb food, cell walls of chitin.

What are the characteristics of Plantae?

Multicellular, eukaryotic, photosynthetic, have cellulose cell walls.

What are the characteristics of Animalia?

Multicellular, eukaryotic, consume food, include vertebrates and invertebrates.

Are viruses alive? Why or why not?

No. They can't reproduce on their own, have no cells or metabolism.

What is a retrovirus?

A virus with RNA that mutates quickly, like HIV.

What is a zoonotic virus?

A virus that spreads from animals to humans.

What are the lytic and lysogenic cycles?

Lytic = virus destroys cell fast. Lysogenic = hides in DNA, activates later.

Why don't antibiotics work on viruses?

Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Viruses use host cells to reproduce.

What is sustainability?

Keeping ecosystems healthy long-term by not using too many resources.

What is carrying capacity?

The largest population an ecosystem can support.

What limits population growth?

Disease, competition, disasters, and limited resources.

What is an invasive species?

A non-native species that harms local ecosystems.

What is a keystone species?

A species that many others depend on. Without it, ecosystems collapse.

How does global warming affect biodiversity?

It destroys habitats and makes climates unstable.

How do humans affect ecosystems?

Deforestation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, changing carbon cycle.