Ecology

What is ecology?

The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment.

What does it mean that organisms are interdependent?

Organisms rely on each other and their environment for survival.

What is an individual in ecological classification?

One living organism.

Define population in ecology.

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

What is a community in ecological terms?

All of the populations living together within a defined area, including all biotic factors.

What constitutes an ecosystem?

All biotic factors in an area plus abiotic factors, which are the nonliving components.

Define biome.

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms.

What is the biosphere?

Our entire planet, encompassing all its organisms and physical environments.

What are biotic factors?

Living or biological influences on an organism, such as predators, prey, and food availability.

What are abiotic factors?

Non-living influences on an organism, including soil, water, and temperature.

How do biotic and abiotic factors interact?

Together, they create the ecosystem.

What is the significance of levels of ecological organization?

They help categorize the complexity of interactions in ecosystems from individuals to the biosphere.

What is the learning target for this ecology unit?

To list and define the levels of ecological organization.

What is the date for the Ecology Chi Square Assessment?

Friday, March 13.

When is the Unit 5 Test scheduled?

Wednesday-Thursday, March 18-19.

What are ecosystems considered in terms of energy and matter?

Ecosystems are open systems where energy and matter can enter and leave.

What is the principal source of energy for most ecosystems?

Sunlight

What process allows organisms to harness sunlight for energy?

Photosynthesis

What are autotrophs?

Organisms that can produce their own organic molecules, also known as producers.

What are photoautotrophs?

Autotrophs that use light energy to produce organic molecules, such as plants and cyanobacteria.

What are chemoautotrophs?

Organisms that obtain energy through the oxidation of inorganic compounds, such as extremophiles.

What are heterotrophs?

Organisms that cannot produce their own organic molecules and must obtain them from other organisms.

What is a herbivore?

An animal that eats producers (plants), such as cows and deer.

What is a carnivore?

An animal that kills and eats other consumers, such as lions and snakes.

What is an omnivore?

An animal whose diet includes both plants and other animals, such as humans and bears.

What is a scavenger?

An animal that consumes carcasses of other animals, such as vultures and hyenas.

What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?

They break down dead organisms and organic matter, extracting energy and nutrients.

What are saprotrophs?

Decomposers that obtain nutrients from dead organisms through external digestion.

What are detritivores?

Organisms that obtain nutrients from detritus using internal digestion, such as earthworms.

What is a food chain?

A diagram showing the flow of energy and biomass through a community.

What do food webs represent?

Interconnected food chains that show a more complete description of energy transfer.

Why are decomposers typically not included in food chains?

They play a vital role in ecosystem health but are often overlooked in food chain diagrams.

What happens to energy once it is transferred between organisms?

It is used for growth, reproduction, and other life processes, and is eventually lost as heat.

What is the primary function of organic molecules in organisms?

They are used for aerobic or anaerobic respiration to produce ATP energy.

What happens to energy during respiration?

Some energy is lost as heat, which dissipates into the environment.

What is the key concept regarding energy transfer at trophic levels?

Energy is lost at each level and does not transfer to the next trophic level, leading to less energy at higher levels.

What is the 10% Rule in ecology?

On average, only 10% of the available energy at a lower trophic level can be transferred to the next successive trophic level.

What is one source of energy loss in ecosystems?

Heat dissipation from metabolic reactions, including cellular respiration.

How does incomplete consumption contribute to energy loss?

Organisms do not fully eat all parts of their food, resulting in uneaten biomass that represents lost energy.

What does inefficient digestion mean in the context of energy loss?

Not all nutrients/energy from consumed food are absorbed; unabsorbed nutrients do not transfer to the next trophic level.

How do metabolic processes affect energy transfer?

Energy used by organisms for life functions cannot be transferred to the next trophic level.

What is meant by inefficient energy conversion and storage?

Not all energy and nutrients can be extracted or stored, and only stored energy can be transferred to the next trophic level.

Why are food chains typically limited to 4-5 trophic levels?

Energy losses decrease the amount of energy stored as biomass, making it insufficient to sustain additional trophic levels.

What does an energy pyramid represent?

It visually represents the amount of energy available at each trophic level, typically measured in energy units per area per time.

What is biomass in ecological terms?

The total dry mass of a group of organisms in a specific area or volume, which contains energy.

What is primary productivity?

The rate at which producers accumulate carbon compounds in their biomass through photosynthesis.

What factors impact primary productivity?

Light availability, temperature, precipitation, and nutrient availability in the soil.

What is the difference between Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary Productivity (NPP)?

GPP is the total energy captured by primary producers, while NPP is the energy available to consumers after accounting for respiration losses.

What is secondary productivity?

The rate at which consumers accumulate carbon compounds as part of their biomass from consuming organic matter.

What is Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP)?

The total biomass assimilated by heterotrophs in an ecosystem.

What is Net Secondary Productivity (NSP)?

The biomass remaining after accounting for respiratory losses, calculated as NSP = GSP - R.

What is ecosystem stability?

Ecosystem stability refers to an ecosystem's ability to maintain its structure and function over time despite disturbances.

What are the two key concepts that allow stable ecosystems to maintain stability?

Resistance and resilience.

Define resistance in the context of ecosystems.

Resistance is the ability of an ecosystem to withstand or resist changes caused by disturbances.

Define resilience in the context of ecosystems.

Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

What role does energy supply play in ecosystem stability?

Ecosystems need a steady supply of energy to maintain stability, and producer diversity maximizes their ability to harness energy.

How does nutrient recycling contribute to ecosystem stability?

Nutrients flow through the food web and are returned to the soil as organic matter decomposes, enhancing stability through higher primary productivity.

What is biodiversity and how does it affect ecosystem stability?

Biodiversity is the variety of life in a specific area; higher biodiversity tends to mean a more stable ecosystem.

What climatic factors can impact ecosystem stability?

Extreme weather and climate changes can create a less stable ecosystem and reduce species diversity.

What is a keystone species?

A keystone species has a disproportionately large impact on the community compared to its abundance or biomass.

Give an example of a keystone species.

Wolves in Yellowstone or bees that facilitate the reproduction of about 80% of the global plant population.

What happens when a keystone species is removed from an ecosystem?

Its removal disrupts the balance within the food web and can cause ecosystem collapse.

What is ecological succession?

Ecological succession is the natural progression of changes in species composition and community structure over time.

What are the causes of ecological succession?

Natural disturbances, human activities, and changes in environmental conditions.

What is primary succession?

Primary succession occurs in an area that is barren and/or wasn't previously colonized, such as newly formed volcanic rock or retreating glaciers.

What are pioneer species?

Pioneer species are the first species to colonize barren land, such as lichens and mosses.

What is the climax community?

A climax community is a stage of relative stability characterized by a mature and diverse community of plants and animals.

What is secondary succession?

Secondary succession occurs in an area that has been previously colonized by living organisms and has experienced a disturbance.

How does secondary succession differ from primary succession?

Secondary succession begins with pre-existing soil and sometimes remnant species, allowing it to proceed faster than primary succession.

What is cyclical succession?

Cyclical succession occurs when some ecosystems require a cyclical pattern of succession to maintain their health.

What is arrested succession?

Arrested succession occurs when the succession process is disrupted and prevents a climax community from being achieved.

What are some examples of natural disturbances that can cause ecological succession?

Wildfires, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, or floods.

What human activities can lead to ecological succession?

Deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, and mining.

How do temperature and precipitation impact an ecosystem's productivity?

Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can significantly affect the productivity of an ecosystem.

What is the significance of a balanced energy flow in an ecosystem?

A balanced energy flow ensures that no one species becomes too dominant or too scarce, contributing to ecosystem stability.

What impact can extreme weather have on biodiversity?

Extreme weather can reduce species diversity, leading to less stable ecosystems.

How do keystone species exhibit top-down control?

Keystone species can regulate populations of other species, causing a trophic cascade that impacts the entire ecosystem.

What is the role of beavers in their ecosystem?

Beavers modify their habitat by building dams, which can create wetlands that support diverse plant and animal life.

Why can matter be recycled in ecosystems but energy cannot?

Matter is recycled as atoms re-enter the food web, while energy is lost as heat during transfers.

What is a carbon sink?

A reservoir that stores carbon and absorbs more carbon than it releases, reducing atmospheric CO2.

Give an example of a carbon sink.

Forests absorb carbon through photosynthesis.

What is a carbon source?

Locations or processes that release more carbon than they absorb, increasing atmospheric CO2.

What are examples of carbon sources?

Respiration and burning of fossil fuels.

What is carbon flux?

The movement of carbon through the ecosystem, represented as arrows in the carbon cycle.

What processes are involved in carbon flux?

Photosynthesis, respiration, consumption of plants, and fossilization.

How does deforestation impact the carbon cycle?

It reduces the capacity of forests to function as carbon sinks, leading to increased atmospheric CO2.

What is the Keeling Curve?

A graph that shows atmospheric CO2 fluctuations over time.

What causes the seasonal fluctuations in the Keeling Curve?

Photosynthesis rates are higher in the growing season, leading to decreased atmospheric CO2.

What happens to atmospheric CO2 during the dormant season?

Atmospheric CO2 increases due to lower rates of photosynthesis compared to respiration.

What is the overall trend of atmospheric CO2 concentration?

There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 due to anthropogenic impacts, like burning fossil fuels.

What is the significance of CO2 concentrations rising above 300 ppm?

It indicates a significant and persistent increase in atmospheric CO2 levels since 1911.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The warming effect caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat radiating from the Earth's surface.

Why is the greenhouse effect necessary for life on Earth?

It keeps the planet warm enough to sustain life.

What are the two greenhouse gases with the largest impact?

CO2 and water vapor.

What are other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change?

Methane and nitrous oxides.

What anthropogenic activities increase CO2 and methane levels?

Combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation.

What is climate change?

A long-term change in Earth's overall temperature with significant and permanent effects.

What are some effects of climate change?

Hotter summers, colder winters, stronger storms, and more flooding.

What are the two major causes of increasing the greenhouse effect?

Combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation.

What is the role of photosynthesis in ecosystems?

It is crucial for absorbing CO2 and sustaining life by producing oxygen.