Concept 4
How do humans contribute MOST to the increasing temperature of our Earth?
combustion of fossil fuels - releases excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
The first organisms to move into an ecosystem are known as
pioneer species
A bird perches on the back of a rhinoceros and feeds on disturbed insects as the rhinoceros moves through the grasslands. The rhinoceros has fewer bugs biting him. What type of ecological relationship is being described here?
Mutualism
a non-native species introduced to an ecosystem that can negatively harm it
invasive species
How are renewable resources different from non-renewable sources?
Renewable resources can be regenerated faster than we use them, unlike fossil fuels.
A student observes a barren rock surface that has been exposed due to a retreating glacier in a mountainous region. Over time, what type of succession might you expect to occur here?
Primary succession
A fish attaches itself to a shark's body using a specialized sucker disc, benefiting from the shark's movement and access to food scraps, but this does nothing for the shark. What type of ecological relationship is being described here?
Commensalism
any interaction that involves a close, physical, long term relationship between two species
symbiosis
List 3 ways humans threaten biodiversity
Pollution, destroying habitats, introducing invasive species
What kinds of organisms would you expect to find in an area where disturbances are frequent, or intense?
Pioneer species like lichens, mosses, short grass
Two different species of birds compete for limited nesting sites in a forest, often engaging in aggressive behaviors toward each other. What type of ecological relationship is being described here?
Interspecific Competition
all of the things an organism needs and does within its habitat
niche
Briefly describe 2 key contributors to global warming
•CFCs deplete the ozone layer, causing too much sunlight to get in.
•Burning fossil fuels adds to the amount of greenhouse gases and causes too much heat to be trapped in.
How can humans impact the process of ecological succession?
Humans mainly impact secondary succession by clearing land for farming or development.
What is the difference between parasitism and predation
Predation kills while parasitism keeps the host alive so that they parasite can live off of it. Predation is a one time event whereas parasitism is a more long-term relationship.
a species that holds the ecosystem together and is crucial for the survival of other species
keystone species
Lis 1 renewable resource, 1 non-renewable resource, and one resource that could be considered both. Defend your answers with reasoning!
R = sunlight - we can never run out!
NR = coal is used faster than it can be made
BOTH = water - could be NR if we pollute our resources beyond use
Provide 2 differences and 2 similarities between both types of ecological succession.
Primary takes a long time, its pioneer species are mosses and lichens, and there is no soil to begin with.
Secondary succession takes less time, its pioneer species are grasses and weeds, and there is soil to start.
Both end with a stable climax community, and both start with a disturbance.
Provide an example of EACH type of symbiotic relationship. Briefly state how each organism is affected.
Mutualism = clownfish gets a home, sea anemone gets food scraps
Commensalism = barnacles travel and get food scraps, whales are unaffected
Parasitism = tick feeds of the blood of a dog
if two species compete for a resource, one will be excluded and one will win
competitive exclusion principle