Ecology

• What is ecology the study of?

  Relationships between organisms and their environment
• What insights does ecology provide?

  How ecosystems function and species roles
• What are the levels of ecological organization?

  1. Individual
  2. Population
  3. Community
  4. Ecosystem
  5. Biome
  6. Biosphere
• What is an individual in ecology?

  A single organism, like a lion or tree
• What defines a population in ecology?

  A group of individuals of the same species
• What is a community in ecological terms?

  Different populations interacting in the same area
• What is an ecosystem?

  A community interacting with its physical environment
• What is a biome?

  A large area defined by climate and vegetation
• What is the biosphere?

  The global sum of all ecosystems
• How does energy flow in ecosystems?

  It enters through photosynthesis and flows through food chains
• What are primary producers?

  Organisms that make their own food from sunlight
• What is photosynthesis?

  The process plants use to convert sunlight into energy
• What are consumers in an ecosystem?

  Organisms that rely on others for food
• What are primary consumers?

  Herbivores that eat plants
• What are secondary consumers?

  Carnivores that eat herbivores
• What are tertiary consumers?

  Apex predators at the top of the food chain
• What are decomposers?

  Organisms that break down dead organic material
• What are trophic levels?

  Levels of energy transfer in an ecosystem
• What are the important biogeochemical cycles?

  1. Water Cycle
  2. Carbon Cycle
  3. Nitrogen Cycle
  4. Phosphorus Cycle
• What happens in the water cycle?

  Water evaporates, condenses, and precipitates
• What is the carbon cycle?

  Carbon is exchanged between atmosphere and organisms
• How do plants participate in the carbon cycle?

  They take in CO₂ during photosynthesis
• What is the nitrogen cycle?

  Nitrogen is converted for plant use through fixation
• What is the phosphorus cycle?

  Phosphorus is released from rocks into the soil
• What are the types of population growth?

  1. Exponential Growth
  2. Logistic Growth
• What is exponential growth?

  Population grows without limits, J-shaped curve
• What is logistic growth?

  Population growth slows due to limited resources
• What is carrying capacity?

  The maximum population size an environment can support
• What are density-dependent factors?

  Factors affecting populations based on density
• What are density-independent factors?

  Factors impacting populations regardless of density
• What are the types of species interactions?

  1. Predation
  2. Competition
  3. Mutualism
  4. Commensalism
  5. Parasitism
• What is predation?

  One organism kills and eats another
• What is competition?

  Two or more species compete for the same resources
• What is mutualism?

  Both species benefit from the interaction
• What is commensalism?

  One species benefits while the other is unaffected
• What is parasitism?

  One organism benefits at the expense of another
• What are the types of ecological succession?

  1. Primary Succession
  2. Secondary Succession
• What is primary succession?

  Change in species structure where no ecosystem existed
• What is secondary succession?

  Change in species structure after an ecosystem disturbance
• What are the human impacts on ecosystems?

  1. Habitat Destruction
  2. Pollution
  3. Climate Change
  4. Overexploitation
  5. Invasive Species