Vocab
This is the definition of a hierarchy
What is 'a system of organization.classification in which different levels are ranked based on size or superiority?'
This is a group of interacting populations living in the same place at the same time
What is a community?
These organisms produce all food for all consumers
What are autotrophs/producers?
This is described as the maximum number of organisms that an environment can support
What is the carrying capacity?
This is the definition of ecology
What is 'the scientific study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environments?'
This refers to the general process by which one plant community replaces another
What is ecological succession?
This occurs when a group of organisms colonizes an area in a predictable, orderly way following some type of environmental disturbance
What is secondary succession?
This process occurs when a group of organisms (usually plants and bacteria) colonize an area of bare rock or sand
What is primary succession?
These are collections of similar ecosystems spread across the planet
What are biomes?
This is the definition of a limiting factor
What is 'any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the growth of a population?'
Define an ecosystem engineer and give an example
What is 1) any organism that creates or modifies habitat and increases the biodiversity of an area and 2) beavers, Gopher tortoise?
Define mutualism and give an example
What is 1) a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit and 2) humans and dogs, crocodiles and bird species, rhinos and bird species, sharks and cleaning fish, etc?
Define parasitism and provide two examples
What is 1) a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed and 2) humans and tapeworms, dogs and ticks/fleas, humans and mosquitoes, rats and fleas, etc?
These are the four criteria that organisms must meet to be considered members of the same species
What is 1) live in the same place at the same time, 2) carry the same number of chromosomes, 3) with the same genes, and 4) be able to reproduce and create a fertile offspring?
This term refers to how close together (or far apart) organisms live from one another
What is 'spatial distribution?'
Define 'scavengers' and provide two examples
What are 'organisms that feed on the leftovers of organisms that have already been killed; vultures, buzzards, hyenas, snapping turtles?'
List four density-independent factors that could affect populations
What are 1) forest fires, 2) floods, 3) droughts, 4) hurricanes, 5) volcanoes, 6) earthquakes, 7) tsunamis, etc?
Briefly explain what happens when an apex predator is removed from its ecosystem
What is 'the populations below the predator on the food chain either explode or collapse and the entire ecosystem can collapse as well?'
Define a predator and give two examples
What is 'any organisms that hunts and kills its prey; ex: wolves, lions, tigers, any big cats, foxes, hawks, etc?'
Is an apex predator always a keystone species? Why or why not?
What is 1) yes and 2) because all apex predators maintain or increase the biodiversity of the ecosystem that they are a part of?
List four density-dependent factors that can affect populations
What are 1) predation, 2) disease transmission, 3) competition for mates, 4) competition for other resources, 5) types of symbiosis
List three examples of a biome
What is 1) rain forest biome, 2) desert biome, 3) temperate deciduous forest biome, 4) savanna biome, 5) aquatic biome, 6) marine biome, 7) freshwater biome, etc?
Define 'decomposers,' give an example, and explain why they are so important in ecosystems
What is 1) any organism that feeds of dead or decaying matter, 2) bacteria and fungi, 3) they breakdown organic matter into basic elements that can then be used by other organisms?
Disturbances can be either _________ or __________; human disturbances are often ______________
What are 1) temporary or permanent, 2) permanent?
List the levels that make up the hierarchy of life from atoms to the biosphere
What is 'atoms > compounds > biomolecules > organelles > cells > tissues > organs > organ systems > organisms/individuals/species > populations > communities > ecosystems > biomes > biosphere?'