Intro to Ecology
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic?
abiotic = non living
biotic = living
Biogeochemical cycles don't have a beginning or end, that means water/carbon/nitrogen is continuously cycled. What law supports this?
The Law of Conservation of Matter
What are the three ways populations can be dispersed?
clumped, random, uniform
Which level is next?
Ecosystem
Put the levels of organization in order from largest to smallest.
Biosphere, biome, ecosystem, community, population, organism
Which of the following is NOT a way carbon moves?
a. photosynthesis
b. ammonification
c. combustion
d. decomposition
b - ammonification
What's something that can increase or decrease a population's density (the number of animals or plants in an area)?
Births, deaths, immigration, emigration
Identify the step or stage of the biogeochemical cycle shown in the picture. (Hint: There are two possible answers.)
Fossilization or Decomposition
Which characteristic of life is described below?
A single oak tree can produce hundreds of acorns which later become future trees!
List out all the stages or steps that both the carbon and nitrogen cycle share.
Consumption
Decomposition
Combustion
(1) Which limiting factor affects the individuals in a population equally? (Regardless of their size or density?)
(2) Which limiting factor specifically affects populations that are larger and denser?
(1) Density Independent Factor
(2) Density Dependent Factor
(1) What type of dispersion (spacing) pattern is represented in the picture?
(2) Would you say this is also an example of high density or low density?
(1) Random
(2) High Density
Explain what the difference is between a community and an ecosystem
A community only describes the biotic organisms in the interacting environment while ecosystems include both biotic and abiotic things.
(1) Which simple organism is involved in multiple stages or "steps" of the nitrogen cycle?
(2) Identify one of the stages or "steps" this organism is part of.
(1) Bacteria!
(2) Nitrogen fixation, consumption, decomposition, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification
Which type of limiting factors is this and why?
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) can quickly spread from one cat to another if the virus is present in the population. This can spread and cause a large population to be infected.
Density dependent factor because viruses/diseases are factors that depend on a large population. More organisms in a population = more opportunities for viruses/diseases to spread.
(1) Which biogeochemical cycle is this?
(2) How do you know?
(1) Nitrogen Cycle
(2) The nitrogen cycle relies heavily on bacteria, much more than the carbon cycle does, which is why this cycle includes multiple images of bacteria!