Lesson #1
All organisms of the same kind that live in a particular area.
Population
A model that shows how food chains overlap in an ecosystem.
Food Web
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.
Climate
A condition that controls the size or growth of a population.
Limiting Factor
Can the following food chain exist?
4 square meters of plants → 3 squirrels → 4 coyotes
Why?
No, 3 squirrels cannot provide enough energy to sustain 4 coyotes.
All of the populations that live together in the same place.
Community
An organism that feeds on the remains of dead animals.
Scavenger
Biome that largely consists of cone-bearing evergreen trees.
Tiaga
The number and variety of organisms in a given area.
Biodiversity
If wetlands were to be developed (cleared to build businesses/houses), what would likely happen?
Destroying these habitats would get rid of the natural sponges, erosion control, and flood control that protects the area.
Living things in an ecosystem.
Biotic Factors
A model that shows why there are always fewer consumers than producers in an ecosystem.
Energy Pyramid
Which biome has an irregular pattern of rainfall?
Grasslands
The first species to establish themselves in a forest that has been destroyed by fire.
Pioneer Community
If someone told you that the average temperature where they live is 90+ degrees, April through October, in what possible biome(s) do they live?
Tropical Rainforest or Desert
Relationship between two organisms that benefits both participants.
Mutualism.
A species role within a community.
Niche
Primary, secondary, and tertiary are all types of ____________.
Consumers.
When a community has stabilized and succession has slowed down or stopped.
Climax Community
A new species of animal has taken over an ecosystem. What might have occurred?
This animal may have been introduced to the area where competition, predators, and limiting factors do not pose a threat.
What type of organism is responsible for "fixing" nitrogen and turning it into forms that plants can use?
Bacteria
A decrease in the food supply within an ecosystem could cause an increase in ____________.
Competition
This biome is known to have varying levels of salinity.
Estuary
When body parts are similar but meet different needs.
Homologous Structures
If scientists are looking for life on other planets, what types of life forms might they be looking for?
Likely life forms would be pioneer species like bacteria or lichen. Large life forms would not be able to evolve without small things colonizing first.