Plant anatomy and physiology

• 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?

  • Individual: A single organism
  • Population: A group of the same species
  • Community: Different populations interacting
  • Ecosystem: Community and physical environment
  • Biome: Large area defined by climate
  • Biosphere: Global sum of all ecosystems
• 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
• Who 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?

  • Water Cycle: Evaporation, condensation, precipitation
  • Carbon Cycle: Exchange between atmosphere and organisms
  • Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen fixation and recycling
  • Phosphorus Cycle: Release from rocks and absorption by plants
• What happens in the water cycle?

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

  Carbon is exchanged between atmosphere and organisms
• What is nitrogen fixation?

  Conversion of nitrogen into usable forms for plants
• What is the phosphorus cycle?

  Phosphorus is released from rocks and absorbed by plants
• What are the key concepts in population ecology?

  • Population Growth: Exponential and logistic growth
  • Carrying Capacity: Maximum population size supported
  • Density-Dependent Factors: Affect populations based on density
  • Density-Independent Factors: Impact populations regardless of density
• What is exponential growth in populations?

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

  Population growth slows and levels off
• What is carrying capacity?

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

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

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

  • Predation: One organism kills another
  • Competition: Species compete for resources
  • Mutualism: Both species benefit
  • Commensalism: One benefits, other unaffected
  • Parasitism: One benefits at the other's expense
• What is predation?

  One organism kills and eats another
• What is competition in ecology?

  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 is ecological succession?

  • Primary Succession: Occurs where no ecosystem existed
  • Secondary Succession: Occurs where an ecosystem was disturbed
• 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?

  • Habitat Destruction: Urbanization and deforestation
  • Pollution: Air, water, and soil pollution
  • Climate Change: Affects species distribution
  • Overexploitation: Depletes populations
  • Invasive Species: Disrupt ecosystems
• What is habitat destruction?

  Reduction of natural habitats by human activities
• How does pollution affect ecosystems?

  Harms organisms and disrupts ecosystems