B7 - Ecology

Cards (115)

  • What is a species?
    An individual is part of a species.
  • What is a habitat?
    A habitat is where a species lives within a population.
  • How are populations dependent on each other?
    Populations are often dependent on each other for resources.
  • What creates a community?
    Many different populations interact in the same habitat.
  • What is an ecosystem?
    An ecosystem is the interaction of a community with abiotic parts of the environment.
  • What do organisms compete for?
    Organisms compete for the same resources.
  • Why are organisms adapted to their environment?
    Organisms are adapted to live in the conditions of their environment.
  • What types of competition exist?
    There can be competition within a species or between different species.
  • What resources do plants compete for?
    Plants may compete for light, space, water, and mineral ions.
  • What resources do animals compete for?
    Animals may compete for space, food, water, and mating partners.
  • What does interdependence describe?
    Interdependence describes how organisms depend on each other for vital services.
  • What vital services do organisms depend on each other for?
    These include food, shelter, and reproduction.
  • How can the removal or addition of a species affect a community?
    It can greatly affect the populations of others by changing prey or predator numbers.
  • What characterizes a stable community?
    A stable community has all biotic and abiotic factors in balance.
  • What happens to population sizes in a stable community?
    The population sizes remain roughly constant.
  • What happens when biotic or abiotic factors are lost in a community?
    It is very difficult to replace them.
  • Give examples of stable communities.
    Examples include tropical rainforests, oak woodlands, and coral reefs.
  • What is an abiotic factor?
    An abiotic factor is a non-living factor.
  • What abiotic factors can affect a community?
    Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil pH and mineral content, wind intensity and direction, carbon dioxide levels, and oxygen levels for aquatic animals.
  • Why is light intensity important for plants?
    Light is required for photosynthesis.
  • How does light intensity affect plant growth?
    The rate of photosynthesis affects the rate at which the plant grows.
  • Why do plants provide food and shelter for organisms?
    Plants can be food sources or shelter for many organisms.
  • How does temperature affect photosynthesis?
    Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis.
  • Why do both plants and animals need moisture?
    Both plants and animals need water to survive.
  • How does soil pH affect plants?
    Soil pH affects the rate of decay and how fast mineral ions return to soil.
  • How does wind affect plants?
    Wind affects the rate of transpiration in plants.
  • Why do different species of plants thrive in different nutrient levels?
    Different species of plants thrive in different nutrient concentration levels.
  • How does transpiration affect plants?
    Transpiration affects the temperature of the plant and the rate of photosynthesis.
  • How do carbon dioxide levels affect plants?
    CO<sub>2</sub> affects the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
  • How do oxygen levels vary for aquatic animals?
    Oxygen levels in water vary greatly, unlike oxygen levels in air.
  • Why do most fish need high oxygen concentrations?
    Most fish need a high concentration of oxygen to survive.
  • What is a biotic factor?
    A biotic factor is a living factor.
  • How does food availability affect populations?
    More food means organisms can breed more successfully, increasing the population.
  • What biotic factors can affect a community?
    Food availability, new predators, new pathogens, and competition.
  • What happens when new predators are introduced?
    New predators can affect the population of prey species.
  • How do new pathogens affect populations?
    New pathogens can wipe out populations quickly due to lack of resistance.
  • What are adaptations?
    Adaptations are traits that allow organisms to survive in their environment.
  • What are structural adaptations?
    Structural adaptations are the shape or color of a part of an organism.
  • Give examples of structural adaptations.
    Examples include sharp teeth of a carnivore and camouflage.
  • How does competition affect species?
    If one species is better adapted, it will outcompete the lesser adapted species.