Honey Bunches of Oats

What is Ecology?

The study of relationships between organisms and their interactions with the environment

What is an ecosystem?

A community of abiotic and biotic components surrounding an organism

What is a biotic factor?

A living component of the environment

What is an abiotic factor?

A non-living component of the environment

What is a habitat?

The particular area that an organism lives

What is a community?

A group of different species living together and interacting with each other in an area

What is a population?

The number of a given species in an environment

What is a niche?

The role an organism plays in the environment

What is biodiversity?

The variety of organisms in an area

What is a symbiotic relationship?

An interaction between two or more organisms in a community

What is mutualism?

Two or more organisms relying on each other to live

What is commensalism?

One organism relying on another, but only that one organism benefits

What is parasitism?

A parasite using a host, harming them for energy, shelter, and nutrition

What is competition?

Different species competing for resources

What is predation?

An interaction where an organism kills and eats another organism

What is a food chain?

A simple model that shows energy flow through an ecosystem, with arrows representing the direction of energy flow

What are autotrophs/producers?

An organism that takes its energy from the sun or chemical sources and converts it into a food source

What are heterotrophs/consumers?

An organism that needs to eat other organisms as an energy source

What is a herbivore?

An organism that eats plants

What is a carnivore?

An organisms that eats meat

What is an omnivore?

An organism that eats both plants and meat

What are decomposers?

An organism that breaks down dead and decaying organisms into simple compounds

What are scavengers?

An organism that eats dead organisms

List 5 types of Bahamian Ecosystems.

Mangroves

Coral Reefs

Rocky shore beaches

Sandy shore beaches

Bahamian Forests

List 5 examples of abiotic factors.

Air

Water

Wind

Soil

Temperature

What are 2 benefits of biodiversity?

It increases the stability of an ecosystem, It contributes to the health of the biosphere

List 4 threats to biodiversity.

Diseases

Invasive Species

Habitat loss and Deforestation

Pollution

At every level in the food chain, only 10% of the energy of one organism is passed down to the other. List 4 reasons for this.

Energy lost to heat

Part of the organism not being eaten

Energy lost as waste

Energy used in movement and other life processes

What is a food web?

A series of interconnected food chains

What is a trophic level?

The position of an organism in the food chain

What is a pyramid of biomass?

A model that represents the total mass of the organisms in the area

What is a pyramid of numbers?

A model that represents the number of organisms at each level

What are endangered species?

species that are in danger of extinction

What are threatened species?

Species that are likely to become endangered

What are extinct species?

Species that no longer exist

Why are larger food webs more stable?

Because if one species or population gets removed, there is a great chance of there being another species to fill the niche

What is an adaptation?

A physical feature, biological process, or behaviour that allows an organism to survive in its environment

What is the ultimate source of energy in a food chain?

The sun

What are 3 conditions must the water have for coral to live in?

Clean clear waters
23-25 degrees C
No deeper than 100 meters

What are coral reefs?

Aquatic forests

What are the 4 types of reefs?

Patch, Atoll, Fringe, Barrier

What are patch reefs?

Small isolated reefs scattered near the shoreline

What are atoll reefs?

A reef surrounding a lagoon or volcanic structure

What are fringe reefs?

Reefs that run close and parallel to the shoreline

What are barrier reefs?

Reefs that run parallel to the shoreline, usually separated by a channel

What phylum are corals classified in?

Cnidarians (coelenterates)

Describe a cnidarian.

Invertebrates with simple jelly-like bodies and stinging cells

Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals called _______,

Polyps

What are the 2 types of corals?

Soft and Hard

What are 2 examples of soft corals?

Sea whip and sea fan

What are 2 examples of hard coral?

Brain coral and Elkhorn

Which type of coral makes most of the reef?

Hard

What is the difference between hard and soft coral?

Hard corals have a limestone skeleton, and Soft corals do not

What is the scientific name for limestone?

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)

What is the limestone cup the polyp sits in called?

Corallite

What does the limestone cup polyps sit in do?

Protect the polyp

What are the main body parts of a polyp?

Stomach, mouth, tentacles

Describe the body of a polyp?

Tube-like and hollow body

Explain how polyps eat.

Their tentacles draw zooplankton to their mouth, and along with the stinging cells in their tentacles, they capture the prey into their mouth

What organism has a mutualistic relationship with the corals?

Zooxanthellae

What does the zooxanthellae do for the coral and what does the coral do for the zooxanthellae?

The zooxanthellae gives the coral its color and food, and the coral gives the zooxanthellae a place to live and photosynthesize

What are 3 ways corals can reproduce?

Asexual reproduction (Budding), Fragmentation, or Sexual reproduction (Spawning)

Review how corals reproduce, especially sexual reproduction (in the slideshow).

Ok :)

Take a break :)

Sure :D

How does fragmentation take place for reproduction?

A section of coral falls away and establishes a new colony

List 5 animals that live in the coral reef ecosystem.

Parrot fish
Sea anemone
Clownfish
Sea urchin
Eel
Seahorse

What are 5 importance of coral reefs? (List them)

Storm Protection
Food production
Tourism
Creating Sand
Scientific Research

List 4 natural threats to coral reefs.

Hurricanes
Predation
Changes in water temperature
Changes in salinity of water

What is the main cause for coral bleaching?

The water getting too warm

What happens when a coral is bleached?

The zooxanthellae living in the coral is expelled, causing the coral to turn white

How may coral bleaching affect the coral?

Making it more susceptible to disease, which may kill it

List 5 things that can help the coral ecosystem.

Marine protected areas
Public education
Obeying fishery laws
Prevent pollution
Save energy
Prevent and control invasive species

What are 4 adaptations of animals in coral reefs and how do they help? (List them)

Body shape to help with movement around the reef
Body makeup to help with protection
Color to help with camouflage
Stinging cell to keep predators away

Where do smaller fish live on the reef and why?

More to the top to search for algae

Why are soft corals flexible?

To move with the waves to avoid breakage

What organism does the sea anemone have a mutualistic relationship with?

Clownfish

What does the clownfish do for the sea anemone and what does the sea anemone do for the clownfish?

The clownfish uses the sea anemone for protection and a home, and the sea anemone uses the clownfish to keep their lenticels clean from bacteria

How does the clownfish protect itself from the stinging cells of the sea anemone?

Secreting mucus on their body

What part of the coral is letter A?

Tentacles

What part of the coral is letter B?

Mouth

What part of the coral is letter C?

Nematocyst

What part of the coral is letter D?

Zooxanthellae

What part of the coral is letter E?

Calcium Carbonate Skeleton

What part of the coral is letter F?

Throat

What part of the coral is letter G?

Corallite

What is a symbiotic relationship?

A close living relationship between different species

What is mutualism?

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

What is commensalism?

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

What is parasitism?

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

What are the 3 main types of Bahamian forest?

Pine Forest, Whiteland Coppice, Blackland Coppice

Where are pine forests found?

The northern islands of the Bahamas

What is the main tree in the pine forest?

Caribbean Pine

What are some other plants in the Pine Forests?

Sabal palmetto palm, Bracken ferns, native orchids, five-finger, poisonwood

Where is the Bahamian coppice found mostly?

The central islands

What types of leaves do coppice forests generally have?

Broad-leaf trees

Give 4 different types of plants in the broad-leaf coppice forest.

mahogany, lignum vitae, gum elemi, horseflesh, pigeon plum, five-finger

Where are blackland coppice located on the island?

Inland on higher elevations

Where are whiteland coppice located on the island?

Close to the shore

Describe the soil of blackland coppice.

Its dark soil is produced by the decomposition of fallen leaves

Describe the soil of whiteland coppice.

The soil light because of sand