topic 7- ecology

• What is a species?

  A group of similar organisms
• What is a habitat?

  The environment where a species lives
• How do populations interact in a habitat?

  They create a community
• What is an ecosystem?

  The interaction of a community with abiotic factors
• Why do organisms compete for resources?

  To survive and reproduce
• What resources do plants compete for?

  Light, space, water, and mineral ions
• What resources do animals compete for?

  Space, food, water, and mating partners
• What does interdependence mean in ecology?

  Organisms depend on each other for vital services
• How can the removal of a species affect a community?

  It can greatly affect other populations
• What is a stable community?

  One where biotic and abiotic factors are balanced
• What happens when biotic or abiotic factors are lost from a community?

  It is difficult to replace them
• What is an abiotic factor?

  A non-living factor in an ecosystem
• How does light intensity affect a community?

  It affects the rate of photosynthesis
• Why is temperature important for plants?

  It affects the rate of photosynthesis
• Why do both plants and animals need moisture?

  To survive
• How does soil pH affect plants?

  It affects the rate of decay and nutrient availability
• What is the effect of wind intensity on plants?

  It affects transpiration rates
• How do carbon dioxide levels affect plants?

  They affect the rate of photosynthesis
• Why are oxygen levels important for aquatic animals?

  Most fish need high oxygen concentrations
• What is a biotic factor?

  A living factor in an ecosystem
• How does food availability affect a community?

  More food allows for successful breeding
• What happens when new predators are introduced?

  They can disrupt the existing population balance
• How do new pathogens affect populations?

  They can wipe out populations quickly
• What is competition in ecology?

  When one species outcompetes another
• What are structural adaptations?

  Physical features of an organism
• What is camouflage in animals?

  A structural adaptation to avoid detection
• How do organisms adapt to cold climates?

  They may have thick layers of fat
• What are behavioral adaptations?

  Ways organisms behave to survive
• What are functional adaptations?

  Involved in processes like reproduction
• What are extremophiles?

  Organisms living in extreme conditions
• How do organisms adapt to dry climates?

  They retain water and are active in cooler times
• What are the levels of organization in an ecosystem?

  1. Producers: Photosynthetic organisms
  2. Primary consumers: Herbivores that eat producers
  3. Secondary consumers: Carnivores that eat primary consumers
  4. Tertiary consumers: Carnivores that eat secondary consumers
• What tools are used to study species distribution in an ecosystem?

  Transects and quadrats
• What happens in predator-prey population cycles?

  Predator and prey populations fluctuate together
• What materials are cycled through an ecosystem?

  • Carbon cycle
  • Water cycle
• How is carbon dioxide removed from the air?

  Through photosynthesis by plants and algae
• How is carbon returned to the atmosphere?

  Through respiration and combustion
• What causes water to evaporate in the water cycle?

  The sun's energy
• How does water return to the land in the water cycle?

  Through precipitation
• What factors affect the rate of decomposition?

  Temperature, water, and oxygen availability