Levels of Organization
What is the smallest level of ecological study?
Species
What is the main source of energy for life on Earth?
The Sun
Water changing into vapor is called…
Evaporation
Daily conditions of the atmosphere are called…
Weather
What is the role an organism plays in its ecosystem called?
Niche
A group of populations living together is called a…
Community
What type of organism makes its own food?
Autotroph/Producer
Plants releasing water vapor through leaves is called…
Transpiration
What gases trap heat in the atmosphere?
Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapor)
Relationship where both species benefit is called…
Mutualism
What’s the largest level of ecological study?
Biosphere
Only about ___% of energy passes to the next trophic level.
10%
Bacteria that convert nitrogen gas into ammonia are doing what process?
Nitrogen fixation
Which zone gets direct sunlight all year round?
Tropical zone
A volcanic eruption wipes out all life AND soil. What type of succession follows?
Primary succession
A group of similar ecosystems is called a…
Biome
Which diagram shows ALL feeding relationships in an ecosystem?
Food web
What happens when too much of a limiting nutrient enters water?
Algal bloom
How does latitude affect climate?
The angle of the sun determines temperature differences
First species to repopulate after a disturbance are called…
Pioneer species
Put these in order from smallest to largest: population, ecosystem, species, community, biosphere.
Species → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biosphere
Name the three types of ecological pyramids.
Energy pyramid, biomass pyramid, pyramid of numbers
Which cycles are examples of biogeochemical cycles? Name at least 3.
Water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus
What transports heat in the biosphere?
Wind and ocean currents
The principle that two species cannot occupy the same niche if resources are limited is called…
Competitive exclusion principle