Ecology

• What is ecology the study of?

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

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

  Organisms rely on each other for resources
• 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 for area
• What does a transect allow us to observe?

  Changes in population distribution over distance
• 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
• What are secondary consumers?

  Predators that eat primary consumers
• What are apex predators?

  Organisms at the top of the food chain
• What are trophic levels?

  Levels in a food chain representing 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?

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

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

  Bacteria release CO2 during decomposition
• Describe the water cycle.

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

  To produce natural fertilizers for crops
• What is biodiversity?

  Variety 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?

  Increased pollution and habitat destruction
• 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 percentage of the greenhouse effect is due to water vapor?

  95%
• 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 divided by whole times 100
• Why is biomass lost at each trophic level?

  Not all biomass is absorbed or consumed
• What are some reasons for food scarcity?

  Population growth and changing diets
• What is food security?

  Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
• How can farmers maximize biomass input?

  By improving crop and animal efficiency
• What is sustainable fishing?

  Fishing at a rate that allows breeding
• How can nets be designed for sustainable fishing?

  Nets with holes to let young fish escape
• What happens if a species is overfished?

  Its population can disappear in that area