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 is interdependence in ecology?

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

  Non-living aspects like light and temperature
• What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

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

  Estimating the size of a population
• How do you estimate a population size using quadrats?

  Sample 10% and multiply the mean
• What does a transect allow us to observe?

  Changes in population distribution over distance
• What does a food chain show?

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

  Organisms that use sunlight to produce biomass
• What do primary consumers eat?

  Producers, which are usually plants
• 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 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 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 waste disposal?

  Increased pollution and habitat destruction
• 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 is food security?

  Access to sufficient food for all
• What factors contribute to food scarcity?

  Population growth, changing diets, conflicts
• How do 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?

  With holes to let young fish escape
• What are the key components of an ecosystem?

  • Organisms (biotic factors)
  • Non-living aspects (abiotic factors)
  • Interactions among organisms
  • Energy flow through food chains
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of high biodiversity?

  Strengths:

  • Stabilizes ecosystems
  • Reduces dependency on single species

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Vulnerability to specific threats
  • Complexity in ecosystem management
• What are the consequences of human impact on ecosystems?

  • Lower biodiversity
  • Increased pollution
  • Habitat destruction
  • Resource depletion
• What are the main challenges to food security today?

  • Increasing world population
  • Changing diets
  • Energy-intensive food transport
  • Conflicts affecting production
• What is the role of decomposition in ecosystems?

  • Recycling nutrients
  • Producing natural fertilizers
  • Contributing to carbon cycling