Biology Review-Ecology

What is Predation

interaction in which one organism (the predator) captures and eats all or parts of another individual organism (the prey)

What is Mutualism

both interacting species benefit

What is Competition

two or more species use the same limited resource (food, sunlight, space)

What is commensalism

One species benefits, and the other is not affected

What is parasitism

One species feeds on but does not always kill another species

What is Ecology the study of?

The relationships among organisms and their environment

How do termites contribute to the resilience of the ecosystem

Termites help with the stability of the ecosystem

Definition of Biomass

A measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area.

What type of organisms have the most biomass

Plants

What is the difference between climate and weather

Weather is the day to day conditions of a location, and Climate is the year after year conditions of a location

How are Abiotic and Biotic Factors different?

abiotic factors are nonliving factors on an environment, and Biotic factors are living factors

Examples of Abiotic Factors

temperature and sunlight

Examples of Biotic Factors

Fungi and Plants

What is biodiversity

The assortment, or variety, of living things in an ecosystem

Where on Earth is biodiversity the greatest? why?

Rainforest because they have plenty of water, lots of sun, and a warm climate

What is the difference between a consumer and Producer

Producers get energy from non-living sources, and Consumers get energy from other living things

Does the energy available increase or decrease as you move up a food chain

decrease

what is the biogeochemical cycle

the recycling of matter

What element is involved in fossil fuels

Carbon

What process removes carbon from the air

Photosynthesis

What is respiration

organisms break down glucose and carbon is released as CO2

What is Decomposition

organisms die, breaks down carbon compounds that enrich soil, released as CO2

What is Combustion

wood or fossil fuels burned and CO2 is released into the air

What are the 4 factors that affect the size of a population

immigration, emigration, births, and deaths

What is exponential growth

A rapid population increase due to an abundance of resources

What role do Photosynthesis and Cellular respiration play in the Carbon cycle

Photosynthesis uses carbon and Cellular respiration produces carbon

Definition of Atmosphere

the gases that surround earth

Definition of Biosphere

part of Earth that supports life

Definition of Hydrosphere

the total amount of water on Earth

Definition of Geosphere

the solid parts of Earth

Definition of logistic growth

Due to a population facing limited resources

Definition of carrying Capacity

Maximum number of individuals in a population that the environment can support over a long period of time without harming the environment

What is a limiting factor

something that keeps the size of a population down

how are density dependent factors different from density independent factors

Density dependent are affected by the number of individuals in a given areas, and Density independent limit the population growth regardless of Density

Examples of Density Dependent Factors

competition and disease

Examples of Density of Independent Factors

natural disasters and human activities

what type of growth curve is the human population undergoing

Exponential Growth

Order of an energy pyramid (biggest to smallest)

Biosphere, Biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism

What is a biome

a major regional or global community

What is an ecosystem

consisting of living and non-living things

what is a community

group of different species living in the same area

What is a population

group of a same species living in the same area

What is an organism

one single living thing

Definition of ecosystem diversity

the variety of habitats in a geographic location

Definition of keystone species

A species that maintain balance and support biodiversity

Two examples of a disturbance

fire and climate change

difference between primary and secondary succession

Primary is the development of an uninhabited area, secondary is the redevelopment of a damaged area that still has soil

Definition of climax community

When natural disturbances happening healthy ecosystems, they do not always reproduce the original climax community

If an ecosystem is resistance what does it mean

if it keeps its structure and continues normal functions, even when environmental conditions change

If an ecosystem is resilient what does it mean

if following a disturbance, it eventually regains its normal structure and function

The majority of known species are

insects

what is the largest threat to biodiversity

a growing human population

what are the long-term effects of the loss of biodiversity

loss of medical and technological advances, extinction of species, and loss of ecosystem stablity

What do humans depend on the Earth’s biodiversity for

food, building materials, medicines, pollinating crops, and regulating pests

Definition of ecological footprint

The total area of healthy land and water ecosystems needed to provide the resources you use

what country’s ecological footprint is 4x the global average

USA

Definition of climate change

measurable long-term changes in average of temperature, clouds, winds, precipitation, and the frequency of extreme weather events

Definition of global warming

Increase in average global temperatures causing oceans to be warmer, sea levels rising due to melting snow

What impact does deforestation have on land

negative impact on soil quality

Definition of anthropogenic changes

changes induced by humans in the environment

What is the difference between habitats loss and fragmentation

habitat loss is when habitats are completely changed, habitat fragmentation prevents an organisms from accessing its entire environment

What does habitat restoration mean

recreates conditions that resemble an ecosystem that previously existed

definition of invasive species

species that are introduced to new habitats that cause harm, environmental harm, or even harm to human health

Definition of pollution

any undesirable factor added to the air, water, or soil

What causes smog

sunlight interacts with pollutants in the air produced by fossil fuels emissions

What is the function of the ozone layer

helps shield our planet from harmful solar (ultraviolet) radiation

What was the main cause of ozone thinning

industrial chemical CFC’s act as catalyst in chemical reactions that break down the ozone layer

Examples of water pollution

residential sewage, industrial and agricultural chemicals, non point sources- smaller sources of pollution oil washed off streets by rain

what causes acid rain

fossil fuels emissions

Definition of biomagnification

causes accumulation of toxins in the food chain

what damage can ingestion of heavy metal cause humans

can cause neurological damage

Definition of over-harvesting

occurs when a resource is consumed at an unsustainable rate

Definition of conservation biology

the field that aims to preserve and protect natural resources, biodiversity. and ecosystem services

What is meant by sustainable development

using resources in ways that preserve ecosystem services

Definition of endangered species act

works to protect individual species from extinction

What is the EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

Definition of ecological restoration

the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed