Vocabulary
What is the science of classifying organisms?
Taxonomy
What gas is used during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Give one example of plankton.
Phytoplankton or zooplankton
Which distribution is shown by fish schooling?
Clumped distribution
What does it mean if a species is “listed”?
Officially recognized under the ESA for protection
Define biodiversity.
Variety of organisms living in a place
What gas is released during photosynthesis?
Oxygen (O₂)
Are plankton autotrophs or heterotrophs?
Phytoplankton = autotrophs; zooplankton = heterotrophs
Which distribution is oyster larvae settling randomly?
Random distribution
What is the difference between endangered and threatened?
Endangered = at risk of extinction now; Threatened = likely to become endangered soon
What is population density?
Number of organisms per unit area
What do plants produce as the main product of photosynthesis?
Sugar/glucose
What is genetic diversity?
Variation within a species based on inherited traits
Which distribution is organisms evenly spaced (like nesting)?
Uniform distribution
Name one endangered marine species from class.
Florida Manatee, Green Sea Turtle, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Sea Otter, Johnson’s Seagrass
What is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support?
Carrying capacity
How are photosynthesis and respiration related?
Products of one are reactants of the other
Why is high biodiversity important?
Creates more stable, resilient ecosystems
What happens when a population exceeds carrying capacity?
Resources run out; population declines
What is one common threat to sea turtles?
Egg poaching, fishing gear entanglement, habitat loss
What does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) do?
Protects threatened and endangered species
Why are phytoplankton vital to marine ecosystems?
They are the base of marine food webs and produce much of Earth’s oxygen
What is one adaptation deep-sea organisms use to survive?
Bioluminescence, large eyes, or pressure resistance
What can age-structure diagrams tell us?
Whether a population is growing, stable, or shrinking
Why are slow-growing animals especially vulnerable to extinction?
They reproduce slowly and can’t recover quickly from population loss