first lessons of ecology

• What is the scientific study of ecology focused on?

  Interactions between organisms and their environment
• What does the term "biotic environment" refer to?

  Organisms of the same species and of other species
• What is the definition of "abiotic"?

  Non-living
• Why do certain species of fish dominate specific areas?

  They thrive and reproduce well in those areas
• What global change can cause species to relocate from their habitats?

  Climate change
• What are the fundamental questions of ecology regarding organism distribution?

  Why do organisms live where they do and why don't they live where they don't?
• What is the ecological hierarchy from smallest to largest?

  Organismal ecology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, landscape ecology, global ecology
• What does organismal ecology study?

  Physiology, morphology, and behavior of organisms
• What defines a population in ecology?

  A group of individuals of the same species living in an area
• What is an ecological community?

  A group of populations of different species in an area that interact with each other
• What does ecosystem ecology involve?

  Interactions between abiotic and biotic factors

  
• What is a landscape in ecology?

  A mosaic of connected ecosystems
• How can human activities affect ecosystems?

  They can disrupt ecosystems and the species within them
• What is global ecology the sum of?

  All the planet's ecosystems
• What is the biosphere?

  The global ecosystem
• How can local processes impact global ecology?

  Local processes can have a global impact, such as peatland degradation affecting carbon emissions
• What are the key components of climate?

  Temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind
• How does latitude affect sunlight intensity?

  Sunlight intensity decreases as latitude increases
• What causes global air circulation and precipitation patterns?

  Concentrated solar energy at the equator causing updrafts of hot moist air
• What weather conditions are typically found at the equator?

  Wet tropical weather conditions
• What is the effect of oceans on climate?

  They provide moisture and distribute heat/cold
• How do mountains influence climate?

  They affect airflow, causing wet conditions on the windward side and dry conditions on the leeward side
• What are terrestrial biomes characterized by?

  Vegetation type
• What are ecotones?

  Transition zones between biomes
• What defines a desert biome?

  Precipitation typically lower than 30 cm per year
• What characterizes a tropical rainforest?

  200-400 cm of rain per year and very high biodiversity
• What major factors influence climate and terrestrial biomes?

  Temperature and precipitation
• What is a savanna characterized by?

  Warm temperatures, seasonal dry periods, and grasslands with scattered trees
• What is chaparral also known as?

  Mediterranean scrubland
• What characterizes temperate grasslands?

  Cold winters, hot summers, and seasonal precipitation of 30-100 cm
• What is the northern coniferous forest also known as?

  Taiga
• What percentage of Earth's surface do oceans cover?

  Approximately 75%
• What is the difference in coverage between freshwater ecosystems and oceans?

  Freshwater ecosystems cover less than 1% of Earth's surface
• What are the zones in lakes and seas based on?

  Light penetration, proximity to shore, and bottom vs water column

  
• What are the main types of freshwater biomes?

  Lakes, wetlands/swamps, rivers, and streams
• What is an estuary?

  A transition between river and sea with great variation in salinity
• What adaptations are required for organisms in intertidal zones?

  Specific adaptations to survive periodic submersion and exposure by tides
• Why are deep-water algae red instead of green?

  They contain phycoerythrin, which traps blue-green light
• What accounts for 50% of global photosynthesis?

  Phytoplankton in the ocean pelagic zone
• What can cause large areas of very low productivity in oceans?

  Lack of micro-nutrients like iron