Unit 2 Biology Honors 9

What is ecology?

Ecology is the study of organisms on Earth and how they interact with the environment around them.

What are autotrophs?

Living things that capture energy from non-living sources and convert it to energy.

What process do autotrophs use to produce energy from sunlight?

Photosynthesis (CO2 + H2O + Sunlight → Carbs + O2).

What do consumers do in an ecosystem?

Consumers eat other organisms for energy.

What are the three types of consumers?

Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores.

What is the difference between detritivores and decomposers?

Detritivores break down waste materials but don't chemically process them, while decomposers, such as bacteria, chemically break down organic matter.

What characterizes a food chain?

A food chain shows the transfer of energy from one organism to another in a linear sequence.

What happens to 90% of energy in a food chain?

It is lost as heat at each step of the energy pyramid.

What is eutrophication?

A process where excess nutrients in water cause overgrowth of algae, leading to oxygen depletion.

What is the nitrogen fixation process?

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia in soil through bacteria.

What is primary succession?

The establishment of a community on exposed rock that has been previously uninhabited.

What is a keystone species?

A species that is vital in stabilizing and diversifying an ecosystem.

What distinguishes between an R strategist and a K strategist?

R strategists have a young maturity age and more offspring, while K strategists have a late maturity age and fewer offspring.

What are abiotic factors?

Non-living factors in an ecosystem, such as rocks and sunlight.

Define symbiosis.

A relationship where two or more organisms live together.

What is the role of pioneer species in ecological succession?

Pioneer species are the first species to colonize an area during the process of succession.

What does a population graph displaying exponential growth look like?

A J-shaped curve indicating constant growth.

What does carrying capacity refer to?

The largest population size that a niche can support sustainably.

Define the term 'habitat.'

A habitat is an area where an organism lives, which can vary in size.

What is the role of the optimal zone in an organism's range of tolerance?

The optimal zone is where the species thrives and is most comfortable.

What is competition in an ecological context?

Competition refers to organisms competing for the same resources such as food and shelter.

What type of relationship does parasitism describe?

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Define the term 'biome.'

A large ecological area on Earth's surface characterized by distinct flora and fauna.