Ecology & Ecosystems
This is the scientific study of relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Ecology
These are the four basic needs of living things.
Food, water, suitable habitat, and gas exchange
In this relationship, both organisms benefit.
Mutualism
Trees, water, oil, and minerals are examples of these materials people obtain from nature.
Natural resources
These three actions are summarized as Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
3R's
Trees, deer, and bacteria belong to this category of ecosystem factors.
Biotic factors
A bird building a nest in a tree is meeting this basic need.
Habitat
In this relationship, one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.
Commensalism
One family clearing a small area of land may have a limited effect. Why can the same type of activity become a much bigger environmental problem when thousands of people do it?
Because the impacts add up as population and resource use increase
This means resources are renewed at least as quickly as they are used and wastes can be absorbed.
Sustainability
Water, soil, air, and temperature belong to this category.
Abiotic factors
A fish taking oxygen from water through its gills is meeting this basic need.
Gas exchange
In this relationship, one organism benefits while the other is harmed.
Parasitism
In Rocky Mountain parks, towns and campgrounds can compete with elk for this basic need.
Habitat
This measures the land and water needed to supply your resources and absorb your waste.
Ecological footprint
This scientist studies relationships between organisms and their environment.
Ecologist
This is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive in its environment.
Adaptation
A remora fish attaches to a shark and gets transportation and leftover food. The shark is not noticeably helped or harmed. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
Commensalism
A community wants to drain part of a wetland for development. Name one important function of the wetland that could be affected.
Reduce flooding or drought
Unplugging unused devices and chargers is one way to reduce -----------
Energy/resource use
Beavers build a dam, a pond forms, and new organisms move into the area. This demonstrates that organisms can --------- an ecosystem.
change
A plant has water and a suitable habitat but cannot take in carbon dioxide. This basic need is not being met.
Gas exchange
Mistletoe grows on a tree and takes water and minerals from it. The mistletoe benefits, but the tree may grow more poorly. Identify the relationship and give its symbol.
Parasitism
DDT was meant to control pests, but peregrine falcon eggs became thin and fragile. This is an example of this type of an --------- effect.
Unintended
Compared with food obtained locally in the past, modern food may have a larger environmental impact because it often requires these three things.
More transportation, packaging, and processing/refrigeration