Monitoring and maintaining the environment

• What are the seven levels of classification in biology?

  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
• What is the largest level of classification in the biological hierarchy?

  Kingdom
• What is the smallest level of classification in the biological hierarchy?

  Species
• What is an ecosystem?

  An ecosystem is the interaction of the community with all of the abiotic and biotic features in the environment, living interdependently.
• What does the term 'distribution' refer to in ecology?

  • Distribution refers to where species are found over the total area where they occur.
• What does the term 'relationship' mean in the context of ecology?

  Relationship refers to how two or more organisms of different species interact with each other.
• What is sampling in ecological studies?

  • Sampling is counting a small number of a large population in order to study its distribution.
• What is the definition of an ecosystem?

  An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
• What are the two key components of an ecosystem?

  Biotic factors and abiotic factors.
• What are biotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Biotic factors are living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
• What are abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

  Abiotic factors are non-living physical and chemical elements such as soil, water, air, and temperature.
• How do ecosystems vary in size?

  Ecosystems can be as small as a pond or as large as a rainforest.
• What characterizes ecosystems in terms of energy flow?

  Ecosystems are characterized by energy flow typically from the sun through producers to consumers.
• What is nutrient cycling in an ecosystem?

  Nutrient cycling is the movement and recycling of nutrients within the ecosystem.
• Give an example of biotic factors in a pond ecosystem.

  Fish, algae, and insects.
• Give an example of abiotic factors in a pond ecosystem.

  Water, dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature.
• What is biodiversity?

  Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species within an ecosystem.
• Why is biodiversity important for ecosystem stability?

  More diverse ecosystems are generally more stable and resilient to changes.
• How does increased biodiversity affect food webs?

  Increased biodiversity creates more complex food webs, which are less likely to collapse if one species is lost.
• What role does biodiversity play in genetic resources?

  Biodiversity provides a pool of genetic material that could be useful for medicine, agriculture, and other fields.
• What are ecosystem services provided by biodiversity?

  Many species contribute to essential processes like pollination, decomposition, and water purification.
• How does biodiversity affect coral reef ecosystems?

  The diversity of fish species helps maintain the health of coral by controlling algae growth.
• What are some human impacts on ecosystems?

  Human activities include habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, overexploitation, and introduction of invasive species.
• What is habitat destruction?

  Habitat destruction involves clearing land for agriculture, urbanization, or resource extraction.
• How does pollution affect ecosystems?

  Pollution involves the release of harmful substances into air, water, and soil.
• What is climate change's impact on ecosystems?

  Climate change refers to global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions.
• What is overexploitation in the context of ecosystems?

  Overexploitation refers to the unsustainable harvesting of natural resources.
• How do invasive species disrupt ecosystems?

  Invasive species can disrupt native ecosystems by outcompeting native species for resources.
• What are protected areas in conservation methods?

  Protected areas include national parks, marine reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries.
• What is species-specific conservation?

  Species-specific conservation involves focused efforts to protect endangered species.
• What is habitat restoration?

  Habitat restoration is the process of repairing damaged ecosystems to their original state.
• What is sustainable resource management?

  Sustainable resource management involves using resources in a way that doesn't deplete them.
• What is the first step in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  Catch a large sample
• Why do you mark the captured individuals in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  To identify them when recapturing
• How should the marking be done in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  Mark with a spot on the back that is barely visible
• After releasing the marked individuals, what should you do next in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  Gather another sample after a set time
• What should be kept constant when gathering the second sample in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  The same control variables
• What do you count in the second sample of the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  How many you have caught and how many are marked
• What is the formula used to estimate the population size in the Mark-Release-Capture method?

  Population = \frac{\text{Total No. of Individuals Caught 1st} \times \text{Total Number of Marked in 2nd Time}}{\text{Number of Marked in 2nd Caught}}
• What is the purpose of a net in environmental sampling?

  To catch animals such as butterflies or fish