Ecology Notes


Ecology Unit Test Review Mixer 2025

Levels of an Ecosystem

individual, species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

Interactions and competition

Biogeochemical Cycles/Abiotic factors

that influence an ecosystem

Sunlight

Climate

Water, Carbon, Nitrogen

Energy in an Ecosystem

Food web

Food chain

Autotroph- Producer

Photoautotroph. Chemoautotroph

Heterotroph- Consumer

Carnivore, Omnivore, Herbivore, detritivore

Decomposers

Energy pyramid= Populations energy transfer and loss

Trophic levels

Decomposers and all consumers

Organism Interactions

Niche

Habitt

Resources Biotic /Abotic

Nutrient cycles

Limiting Nutrient

Primary Productivity- chemical and photosynthetic

Biomass carbon storage and decomposition.

Interactions and competition

Competition

Interspecific competition

Competitive exclusion principle

Extinction vs evolution

Resource partitioning

Predation

Keystone predator

Predation defenses:

Camouflage, Chemical defenses,

Müllerian Mimicry, Batesian mimicry

Symbiosis

Mutualism, Commensalisms, Parasitism

Biomes

Tropical Rain Forest

Deciduous Forest

Coniferous forest

Tundra

Desert

Savanna

Temperate Grasslands

Population Ecology

Population Density

Exponential growth, Logistics Growth

Carrying capacity

Overpopulation

Density dependant and independent factors

Boom and Bust cycles

Density independent factors

Predator Prey relationships

Emigration, immigration

Life History Strategies K(like humans vs R like rats)

Human Population

World’s Population growth Carrying capacity

Carbon/ Ecological Footprint

Growth trends based upon age structure

Human Impact on the environment

Biodiversity

Threats: habitat destruction, Invasive species,

overexploitation and deforestation

Pollution: Soil, water, air, agriculture, mining

Fossil Fuels- Formation and types

Greenhouse effect

Alternative energy sources (pro’s and con’s)

Dead zones/Eutrophication

Sustainability Unit

Renewable energy and renewable types of energy. Refer to notes and class research please.

Tragedy of the commons.

Electric power generation.

Your carbon footprint and their impacts on the Earth’s climate.

Biomagnification and human exposure risks.

PFAS< Mercury, lead, micro plastics and your personal risk factors