Ecology Basics
What is a population?
Individuals of the same species living in an area at a given time.
What is a limiting factor?
An environmental variable that determines how big a population can be.
What is variation?
Differences between individuals of the same species.
What is a behavioral adaptation?
An instinctive behavior that helps an organism survive.
What is a taproot?
A root that reaches water deeper in the ground.
What is a community?
All populations living and interacting in an area.
What is carrying capacity?
The largest population an area can support over time.
What is an adaptation?
A physical feature or behavior that helps an organism live successfully.
What does nocturnal mean?
Being active at night.
How does wind disperse seeds?
Wind blows seeds away from the parent plant.
What is an ecosystem?
A community of organisms and their nonliving surroundings.
What are three examples of limiting
Space, water, and food.
What causes variation in a population?
DNA combinations from parents or mutations.
How does camouflage help an organism?
It helps organisms hide from predators or sneak up on prey.
Why does seed dispersal help plants?
It prevents competition for space, water, nutrients, and sunlight.
What is a habitat?
The places an organism goes to find everything it needs to survive.
What is the carrying capacity of seals on the study guide graph?
7,500 seals.
What is a physical or structural adaptation?
A physical feature that helps an organism survive and reproduce.
Why does being nocturnal help an organism survive?
It reduces competition for prey and makes organisms harder to see.
How does a taproot help a plant during drought?
It reaches deeper water so the plant can withstand drought longer.
What is a niche?
The role or job an organism plays in its ecosystem.
How did the seal population change between 1980 and 1990?
It increased dramatically from about 3,000 to 7,400 seals.
What does being successful in nature mean?
Surviving long enough to reproduce and pass genes to offspring.
How does camouflage help both predators and prey?
It helps prey hide from predators and predators sneak up on prey.
How does animal seed caching help plants grow?
Animals spread and bury seeds away from the parent plant, helping them germinate when conditions are right.