Ecology Adaptations & Taxonomy

Does energy move in a cycle or a flow pattern? 

Flow pattern

What do food chains and food webs help us understand? 

These are diagrams that help show how energy moves between organisms living in an ecosystem. ¹

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Food chain - shows only one feeding relationship pathway in an ecosystem. Food web - shows all the different feeding pathways in an ecosystem - shows all the interconnected food chains. ¹

What information does an energy pyramid show us about ecosystems?

They show the different trophic levels and the energy available at each step of a food chain. ¹

What percentage of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?

10% of the energy is transferred. Most of the energy is used by organism and some energy is lost as heat

Where does the rest of the energy go?

Most of the energy is used by the organism; some energy is lost as heat. ¹

Why are the plants at the bottom of the pyramid? 

They are the producers. They are autotrophs and make their own food through photosynthesis. They are the base/start of every food chain.

What would happen to the food pyramid if the plants in an ecosystem were destroyed by fire?

The food chain would collapse and would be destroyed. ¹

 What would happen to the food pyramid if the population of apex predators (like snakes) were destroyed by humans?

The secondary consumer population would increase dramatically. This would cause the primary consumer populations to decrease. ¹

What would happen if there were no fungi and bacteria in this pyramid?

Without all the decomposers, all dead organisms would pile up - nothing would be "broken down".

What is bioaccumulation? 

The buildup of toxins in an individual organism over time.

What is biomagnification?

The passing of toxins from one trophic level to the next; toxins increasing in concentration as you move up the food chain.

Why are predators at the top of the food chain most affected by biomagnification?

Certain toxins accumulate (increase) as you move up the food chain. By the time you get to the apex predators, the toxin levels can be extremely high.

Biotic:

Living things

Abiotic:

Non-living things

Ecology:

The study of organisms and how they interact with the physical world around them.

Ecosystem:

All the biotic and abiotic things interacting together in a specific area. T

Trophic level:

Steps of the energy pyramid.

Producer:

Autotrophs.

Consumer:

Heterotrophs.

Primary consumer:

Herbivores

Secondary and tertiary consumers:

 Carnivores.

Apex predators:

Top of the food chain - no predators except humans.

Decomposer:

Eat dead and decaying organisms.

Adaptation:

 Traits that help an organism survive and reproduce.

What are the 2 types of adaptations? 

Physical Adaptation and Behavioral Adaptation.

What is a Physical Adaptation?

Something about the organism's physical body that helps it survive.

What is a Behavioral Adaptation? 

Something an organism does to survive - these are often actions.

 Explain what camouflage is. 

Colors or markings that help an organism blend in or hide.

Why is camouflage helpful for a living organism? 

They use this to hide from predators or sneak up on prey (like a lion in dry grass)

 Describe what "warning coloration" means. 

Bright colors or specific patterns that warn others that they are toxic or dangerous to eat.

Explain the importance of mimicry.

 Mimicry is when an organism mimics another organism or even leaves or trees to help them hide (e.g., stick bug).

 Give an example of a body part as a physical adaptation.

Elephant's trunk - helps pick up food, drink and interact. Other examples: claws, teeth, beaks, shells.

Give 2 examples of a chemical defense used by animals. 

1. Skunks spraying a foul smell. 2. Squid ink sprayed to create a cloud to escape. ¹

Instinct (Behavioral adaptation):

Behaviors that do not have to be taught (e.g., spinning a web, building a nest, hibernating)

Learned (Behavioral adaptation):

Behaviors that are taught - passed from one generation to the next (e.g., hunting, flying, fishing). ¹

Give at least 3 reasons why plants would need to adapt. 

To get nutrients, for protection, and for reproduction. ¹

What is a structural adaptation for plants?

Something physical on the plant to help them survive (e.g., roots, leaves, stems). ¹

Explain evolution. 

Change over time - changes that take place over very long periods of time that result in changes to traits seen in a population.

What is natural selection?

A mechanism for evolution; the best adaptations are passed from parent to offspring.

Who is the "Father of Modern Taxonomy"? 

Carl Linnaeus.

Why was the old naming system bad? 

 The scientific names were too long and complicated. ¹

What is the naming system Linnaeus came up with? 

Binomial nomenclature (all living things have two names).

What were the TWO Kingdoms Linnaeus recognized?

Plant and Animal.

How many Kingdoms do we have today?

6 Kingdoms.

Linnaeus was the first scientist to group humans with... 

Primates.

What does the name "Homo sapiens" mean? 

"Wise man".

Define taxonomy.

Area of science that deals with the organization or classification of all living things.

List the taxonomic levels from most general to most specific. 

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What is the mnemonic to remember taxonomic levels? 

Dear King Phillip Chews Only Fresh Green Spinach.

What does the word "archaea" mean? 

Ancient

Domain Bacteria:

Prokaryotes, found everywhere, more good than bad

Domain Archaea:

 Prokaryotes but not true bacteria; extremophiles; considered "ancient" due to harsh conditions.

Domain Eukarya:

Eukaryotes (have a true nucleus), have membrane-bound organelles, contains 4 Kingdoms.

Kingdom Protista:

"Junk drawer" of Eukarya; can be protozoa (move for food) or algae (use sunlight).

Kingdom Fungi:

Uni/multicellular heterotrophs; cell wall made of chitin; reproduce using spores.

 Kingdom Plantae:

Multicellular autotrophs; cell wall made of cellulose.

Kingdom Animalia:

Multicellular heterotrophs without a cell wall; can move at some point.

Autotroph:

An organism that makes its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Heterotroph:

 An organism that relies on other organisms for its food.

Why do we still use Latin for scientific names? 

1. Dead language. 2. Doesn't change. 3. Universal communication. 4. Descriptive.

What does the word dichotomous mean? 

Divided in two.

What are dichotomous keys?

Tools used to identify or classify objects based on characteristics.

Which question number do you always start with?

Question number one

How do you type a scientific name? 

Genus starts with uppercase, species lowercase. Both in italics.

How do you handwrite a scientific name?

Genus uppercase, species lowercase. Both underlined separately.