Ecology Review

• What are the Levels of Organization?

  Cell, Tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism
• What is Ecology?

  The relations of organisms to one another and to the physical surroundings
• What is the difference between an Ecosystem and a community?

  Ecosystem: Includes both living organisms and their physical environment. Community: Only includes living organisms of different species in a specific area
• What is Biodiversity?

  The variety of all living things and their interactions
• What is the measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area is known as what?

  Biomass
• What is another term for Producer?

  Autotroph, Plants
• What is a Food Chain?

  A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms
• What is a Food Web?

  A diagram of energy flow in an ecosystem and shows what the organisms eat
• What is a Trophic Level?

  Position in a food chain
• What are the steps of the Water Cycle?

  Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration, Transpiration
• What is Runoff in the Water Cycle?

  Surface water that makes its way back to large bodies of water
• What is Infiltration in the Water Cycle?

  Movement of water through the soil
• What is Transpiration in the Water Cycle?

  Plants release excess water vapor into the atmosphere
• What are the steps of the Carbon Cycle?

  Photosynthesis, Respiration, Decomposition, Fossilization, Combustion, Ocean Uptake
• What are the steps of the Nitrogen Cycle?

  Nitrogen Fixation, Nitrification, Assimilation, Ammonification, Denitrification
• What are the steps of the Phosphorus Cycle?

  Weathering, Absorption, Consumption, Decomposition
• What is Weathering in the Phosphorus Cycle?

  Overtime rocks break down, releasing phosphorus into the soil and water
• What is Consumption in Phosphorus Cycle?

  Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants or animals
• What is Decomposition in the Phosphorus Cycle?

  When plants and animals die they release phosphorus back into the soil when they decompose
• What is Logistic Growth?

  characterized by an initial rapid increase, followed by a slowing growth rate as the population approaches its carrying capacity
• What is a Density Dependent Limiting Factor?

  Things in a Ecosystem that affects a population more as it gets bigger
• Example of Density Dependent Limiting Factor?

  Competition, Predators, Diseases
• What are Density Independent Limiting Factor?

  Factors that affect a population regardless of its size or density
• Examples of Density Independent Factor?

  Natural Disasters, Weather
• What is an example of Chemical to Thermal Energy in a Ecosystem?

  When organisms convert chemical energy from their food into heat energy to maintain body temperature
• What is Interspecific Competition?

  When different species compete for the same resources
• What is Intraspecific Competition?

  Competition between individuals of the same species
• What does an Ecosystem contain?

  Living organisms and their physical environment