key terms
population density
a measure of the number of people living within a specific geographic area, calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area
parasitism
commensalism
mutualism
threats to wild rice
climate change, industrial activities like mining and pipelines, and pollution like high levels of sulfate in the water
the importance of benthic macroinvertebrates
a vital food source for fish and other aquatic life, serve as important indicators of water quality, and play a key role in nutrient cycling by breaking down organic matter
carrying capacity
the maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely, limited by factors like food, water, shelter, and other resources
biodiversity
the variety of all life on Earth, including the diversity within species (genetic), between species, and the variety of ecosystems, such as forests, oceans, and deserts
why wild rice is important to Ojibwe people
it is a sacred food, a historical staple, and a cornerstone of their culture and identity
why is community science beneficial
empowers citizens to contribute to research, gathers large-scale data at a low cost, increases public awareness of scientific issues, builds community engagement, and supports scientific education
bioindicator
a living organism that reveals the health and quality of an ecosystem
types of succession
ecological
primary
secondary
rights of nature
movement that advocates for granting ecosystems, such as rivers and forests, legal rights similar to those of humans
the importance of bats in an ecosystem
provide vital services such as insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal
keystone species
an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its population size, and its removal can lead to a dramatic change or even collapse of the ecosystem
biome
a large ecological area with a specific climate, vegetation, and animal life
why is the st louis estuary important
for its immense ecological productivity
how to prevent storm water pollution
properly disposing of waste, maintaining vehicles, and using lawn chemicals sparingly
ecological niche
the functional role a species plays in its ecosystem, encompassing its interactions with both the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environment, and including its habitat, diet, and relationship to other species
10 % rule
only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next in a food chain or web, with the rest lost as heat during metabolic processes, digestion, or as waste
where carbon molecules cycle on earth
through Earth's atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms, with the majority stored in rocks and sediments
example of invasive species
answers vary