Ecology

• What is a species?

  A group of organisms that can breed
• What is a population?

  All organisms of a species in a habitat
• What defines a community?

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

  A community interacting with the abiotic environment
• What do organisms compete for?

  Limited resources like food and space
• What do plants compete for?

  Light, space, water, and minerals
• What do animals compete for?

  Food, water, space, and mates
• What is interdependence in ecosystems?

  Organisms rely on each other for survival
• What characterizes stable communities?

  Balanced biotic and abiotic factors
• How do changes in abiotic factors affect communities?

  They can alter the survival of organisms
• What is light intensity needed for?

  Photosynthesis
• How does temperature affect organisms?

  It affects enzyme activity
• Why are moisture levels essential?

  For plant and animal survival
• How does soil pH affect plants?

  It affects growth and nutrient availability
• What does wind intensity affect in plants?

  Transpiration rates
• Why are carbon dioxide levels important?

  For photosynthesis
• Why are oxygen levels in water essential?

  For aquatic animals
• How does food availability affect populations?

  More food leads to higher population growth
• What impact do new predators have?

  They can reduce prey numbers
• How can new pathogens affect species?

  They can wipe out species without resistance
• What happens if a species is outcompeted?

  It may decline or go extinct
• What are structural adaptations?

  Physical features aiding survival
• What are behavioral adaptations?

  Actions that increase survival
• What are functional adaptations?

  Internal processes aiding survival
• What are extremophiles?

  Microorganisms surviving in extreme conditions
• What do food chains illustrate?

  Energy transfer between organisms
• Who are producers in a food chain?

  Plants that use photosynthesis
• Who are primary consumers?

  Herbivores that eat plants
• Who are secondary consumers?

  Carnivores that eat herbivores
• Who are tertiary consumers?

  Top predators in the food chain
• What is the relationship between predators and prey?

  Predators hunt prey, affecting their numbers
• What happens when prey numbers increase?

  Predator numbers also increase
• What occurs if predator numbers increase too much?

  Prey numbers fall, leading to predator decline
• What does photosynthesis do to CO₂?

  Removes CO₂ from the atmosphere
• What does respiration do to CO₂?

  Releases CO₂ into the atmosphere
• What does combustion do to CO₂?

  Releases CO₂ into the atmosphere
• What is the first step of the water cycle?

  Evaporation
• What is the second step of the water cycle?

  Condensation
• What is the third step of the water cycle?

  Precipitation
• What is the fourth step of the water cycle?

  Runoff