Living Environment

• What is a habitat?

  A place where an organism lives
• What is a population?

  Number of organisms of one species
• What does a community include?

  All populations living together
• What is an ecosystem?

  A natural unit of living and non-living parts
• What is an adaptation?

  A feature that suits an organism to its environment
• What are abiotic factors?

  Non-living features of an ecosystem
• What abiotic factors affect aquatic ecosystems?

  Water flow rate, oxygen concentration, pH, temperature
• What abiotic factors affect terrestrial ecosystems?

  Temperature, light intensity, soil moisture, pH, wind
• What equipment measures abiotic factors?

  • Thermometer: air/water temperature
  • Light meter: light intensity
  • Moisture meter: soil moisture
  • pH meter/universal indicator: soil/water pH
  • Anemometer: wind velocity
  • Weather vane: wind direction
  • Rain gauge: precipitation
  • Flow meter/float method: water flow rate
  • O2 meter: oxygen concentration
• How can reliability be improved in measurements?

  By taking repeated measurements
• How is accuracy improved in measurements?

  By using calibrated equipment properly
• What indicates precise results?

  Values close to each other and actual value
• What are sampling techniques?

  Methods to collect data on populations
• What are examples of sampling techniques?

  • Quadrats
  • Dip nets
  • Sweep nets
  • Pitfall traps
  • Mammal traps
  • Camera traps
• What is the purpose of quadrats?

  To sample plant or slow-moving animal species
• How do you calculate total population from quadrat data?

  Total population = population size/m$^2$ x total area
• How can reliability of estimated abundance be improved?

  By repeated trials or increasing sample size
• What is random sampling?

  Every individual has an equal chance of selection
• How can random sampling be achieved with quadrats?

  Using a random number generator for coordinates
• What is bias in sampling?

  When sampling is not random
• Why is accurate species identification important?

  To improve accuracy of calculated abundance
• What is a transect study?

  A study using quadrats to observe species changes
• What do dip nets sample?

  Aquatic invertebrates in shallow waters
• What do sweep nets sample?

  Invertebrates in long grasses or hedges
• What do pitfall traps sample?

  Invertebrate populations on the ground
• What can camera traps monitor?

  Animal populations
• What is the Capture-Mark-Recapture technique?

  A method to estimate animal population size
• How do you estimate population size from Capture-Mark-Recapture?

  Estimated population size = 1st sample x 2nd sample / 2nd sample previously marked
• How do abiotic factors affect organism distribution?

  Factors like light and soil moisture influence plants
• What are paired statement keys used for?

  To identify organisms
• What is a carnivore?

  An animal that eats only other animals
• What is a herbivore?

  An animal that eats only plant material
• What is an omnivore?

  An animal that eats both plant and animal material
• What is a detritivore?

  An animal that feeds on dead organic matter
• What is a decomposer?

  A microorganism that feeds on dead organic matter
• What is a producer?

  An organism that produces its own food
• What is a primary consumer?

  A herbivore that eats the producer
• What is a secondary consumer?

  An animal that eats the primary consumer
• What is a tertiary consumer?

  An animal that eats the secondary consumer
• What is a niche?

  The role of a species in a community