Vocab
This is the definition of symbiosis
What is 'a close physical association between two organisms that are different species?'
This occurs when two or more organisms use the same resources
What is competition?
This is why a mule is not its own species
What is 'because mules are sterile and cannot reproduce to create fertile offspring?'
This is a measure of the total number of species in an area
What is biodiversity?
This element is usually the limiting factor in most ecosystems
What is phosphorus?
This is the definition of a keystone species
What is 'any organism that plays a critical role in maintaining or increasing the biodiversity of an ecosystem; organisms that are the 'glue' holding an ecosystem together?'
This occurs when the last members of a species die out
What is extinction?
What is 'ecosystems include both the biotic and abiotic environment?'
What is 'a type of symbiosis where one species benefits and the other species is unaffected; ex: barnacles and whales?'
This occurs when a keystone species is removed from an ecosystem
What is 'the biodiversity of the ecosystem decreases and ecosystem collapse will often occur?'
These are typical pioneer species
What are bacteria, mosses, algae, lichens, protists, etc?
Define intraspecific competition and provide an example
What is 'competition between organisms that are members of the same species; deer competing for food, cardinals competing for a mate, box turtles competing for a log to bask on?'
List three examples of limiting factors in ecosystems
What are 1) food, 2) shelter, 3) space, 4) sunlight, 5) habitat, 6) mates, etc?
Briefly explain the relationship between genetic diversity and risk of extinction
What is 'the higher the level of genetic diversity, the lower the risk of extinction?'
Why does only 10% of energy make it to the next trophic level?
What is 'because organisms use 90% of the energy on growth, reproduction, maintaining homeostasis, responding to stimuli, metabolism, etc?'
Define interspecific competition and give one example
What is 'competition that occurs between members of different species; ex: for water, space, food, habitat, shelter, sunlight, etc?'
Give four examples of an ecosystem disturbance
What are 1) hurricane, 2) flood, 3) drought, 4) tornado, 5) wildfire, 6), deforestation, 7) volcanic eruption, etc?
Define density-dependent factors and give two examples
What is 1) any factor that affects a population equally, regardless of its size or density and 2) competition, predation, spread of disease, etc?
These are four reasons why all living organisms require energy
What is to maintain homeostasis, respond to stimuli, movement, growth and development, reproduction, etc?
These are the three general patterns observed for spatial distribution of populations:
What are 1) uniform distribution, 2) random distribution, 3) clumped distribution?
Briefly explain the difference between population density and spatial distribution
What is 'population density is the number of individual organisms per unit of living area; spatial distribution is describing the pattern in which those organisms are distributed across their space?'
Are keystone species always apex predators? Why or why not?
What is 'no - not all keystone species are apex predators. Organisms such as beavers and sea otters play very important roles in maintaining biodiversity in their ecosystems but they are not apex predators?'
What is 'photosynthesis removes Carbon from the atmosphere, cellular respiration puts Carbon back into the atmosphere; humans put large amounts of carbon back into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels?'
Explain the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition
What is 'interspecific competition occurs between two members of different species; intraspecific competition occurs between two members of the same species?'
List and define the three major types of symbiosis AND provide an example of each
What are 1) mutualism - both species benefit; rhino and bird, humans and dogs, 2) commensalism - one organism benefits, the other is neither harmed nor helped; whales and barnacles ,and 3) parastism - one organism benefits, the other is harmed; humans and tapeworms, humans and mosquitoes, dogs and ticks, etc?