Biology ecology

• What is ecology the study of?

  Interactions of organisms in ecosystems
• What do organisms generally compete for in an ecosystem?

  Food, water, space, CO2, and light
• What is interdependence in ecology?

  Organisms relying on each other
• What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Non-living aspects like light and temperature
• Give examples of abiotic factors.

  Light, temperature, moisture, soil pH
• What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Factors due to organisms like food and predators
• How can quadrats be used in ecology?

  To estimate population size in an area
• What is the method for estimating population size using quadrats?

  Sample 10%, take mean, multiply up
• What does a food chain show in an ecosystem?

  Direction of biomass and energy flow
• What are producers in an ecosystem?

  Organisms that use sunlight to produce biomass
• What types of organisms are primary consumers?

  Herbivores and omnivores
• Who are secondary consumers in a food chain?

  Predators that eat primary consumers
• What are apex predators?

  Top of the food chain with no predators
• What are trophic levels?

  Levels in a food chain based on energy flow
• How do population numbers fluctuate in an ecosystem?

  They change over time due to various factors
• What happens to carbon when organisms die?

  It is recycled to create new organisms
• How do plants use CO2?

  For growth during photosynthesis
• What role do bacteria play in decomposition?

  They release CO2 during the process
• What is the water cycle?

  Rain falls, runs into rivers, evaporates
• How do farmers utilize decomposition?

  To produce natural fertilizers for crops
• What is biodiversity?

  Diversity of different organisms in an ecosystem
• Why is high biodiversity important?

  It stabilizes ecosystems and resource availability
• How does human development affect biodiversity?

  It usually results in lower biodiversity
• What problems arise from human waste disposal?

  Need for better sewage and chemical disposal
• What is an example of land use affecting ecosystems?

  Destruction of peat bogs for compost
• What is the impact of burning peat?

  It releases CO2 into the atmosphere
• What gases contribute to global warming?

  Carbon dioxide and methane
• What is the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

  0.04%
• What is the percentage of methane in the atmosphere?

  0.18%
• What gas is responsible for 95% of the greenhouse effect?

  Water vapor
• What is the effect of deforestation on biodiversity?

  It reduces biodiversity significantly
• What does the Pyramid of Biomass illustrate?

  Mass entering the next trophic level
• How do you calculate the percentage absorbed by the next trophic level?

  Percentage = part/whole × 100
• Why is biomass lost at each trophic level?

  Not all biomass is absorbed or consumed
• What factors contribute to food security issues?

  Population growth, changing diets, conflicts
• What is a sustainable fishing practice?

  Nets that allow young fish to escape
• What happens if a species is fished too much?

  Its population can disappear in areas
• What are the main components of a food chain?

  • Producers: Organisms that produce biomass
  • Primary consumers: Herbivores and omnivores
  • Secondary consumers: Predators of primary consumers
  • Tertiary consumers: Higher-level predators
  • Apex predators: Top of the food chain
• What are the impacts of human activities on ecosystems?

  • Lower biodiversity due to development
  • Waste disposal issues (sewage, chemicals)
  • Land use changes (building, farming)
  • Deforestation leading to habitat loss
• What are the consequences of climate change on ecosystems?

  • Increased global temperatures
  • Altered habitats and species distributions
  • Changes in food security and resource availability
  • Increased frequency of extreme weather events