Ecology

• 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.
• 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.
• How are organisms adapted to their environment?

  Organisms are adapted to live in the conditions of their environment.
• What do organisms compete for?

  Organisms compete for the same resources.
• 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 in a community 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 from a community?

  It is very difficult to replace them.
• Give examples of stable communities.

  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.
• What role do plants play in ecosystems?

  Plants can be food sources or shelter for many organisms.
• How does temperature affect photosynthesis?

  Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis.
• Why are moisture levels important for plants and animals?

  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.
• What is the effect of soil mineral content on plant species?

  Different species of plants thrive in different nutrient concentration levels.
• How does wind affect plants?

  Wind affects the rate of transpiration in plants.
• What is transpiration?

  Transpiration is the movement of water from root to leaves in plants.
• How does transpiration affect plant temperature?

  Transpiration affects the temperature of the plant.
• How do carbon dioxide levels affect plants?

  CO$_2$ 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.
• What do most fish need to survive?

  Most fish need a high concentration of oxygen to survive.
• What is a biotic factor?

  A biotic factor is a living factor.
• What biotic factors can affect a community?

  Food availability, new predators, new pathogens, and competition.
• How does food availability affect population numbers?

  More food means organisms can breed more successfully, increasing the population.
• What happens when a new predator is introduced to a community?

  It can affect the population of prey species.
• What is the impact of new pathogens on a population?

  A new pathogen can wipe out a population quickly if there is no resistance.
• How does competition affect species in a community?

  If one species is better adapted, it will outcompete the lesser adapted species.
• 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.

  Sharp teeth of a carnivore and camouflage in a lioness's coat.