Vocabulary
Define Population
what is a group of individuals belonging to the same species that live within a specific geographic area and can interbreed with each other
All of the land and water on earth that contain living things
The Biosphere
What are some reasons that a population might decrease after it reaches its carrying capacity?
limited food availability, increased competition for resources like water and space, heightened disease spread due to high density, reduced reproductive rates, increased mortality, and potential environmental changes that further limit resource access
Define Symbiotic Relationship
a long-term interaction between two or more species that benefits at least one of the organisms
Define Autotroph
an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Define Community
a group of different species of organisms that live together in a specific area and interact with each other, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, all sharing the same habitat and influencing one another through their relationships within that space
The fish, plants, and frogs in a pond along with the water temperature, light, pH, oxygen content and soil nutrients found in that pond.
Ecosystem
What is an ecological niche?
the specific role a species plays within an ecosystem, encompassing the environmental conditions it needs to survive and reproduce, as well as its interactions with other species in that environment
Define Mutualism and give an example
symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.
Answers will vary
Heterotroph
an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Define Ecosystem
the "living environment" where all the organisms and their surroundings work together as a whole.
All of the deer found in a forest in New York State
Give an example of two species that live in the same habitat but do not have the same niche?
Answers will vary.
Define Commensalism and give an example
an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.
Answers will vary
What are pioneer organisms? Give two examples
Pioneer organisms are the first living things to colonize a previously barren area, like after a natural disaster, and are typically hardy species that can thrive in harsh conditions;
Answers will vary
Define Biome
a large geographical region characterized by distinct climate, vegetation, and animal life
New York State and all the other places in the world who have 4 seasons and trees that lose their leaves before winter.
a Biome
What happens if two species occupy the same niche?
they will directly compete for the same resources, leading to a situation where one species will eventually outcompete the other, often causing the less competitive species to decline in population or even become locally extinct
Define Parasitism and give an example
a close relationship between two organisms, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside the other organism, the host, and causes it some harm
Answers will vary
What is biodiversity?
the variety of life on Earth, including all living things and their interactions
Define Biosphere
the part of the Earth where life exists, encompassing all living organisms and their physical environment, including the air, water, and land they inhabit
The grass, shrubs, worms, insects, and bacteria found in a sample of soil
A Community
Define Carrying Capacity
the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.
What does a parasite/host relationship have in common with a predator/prey relationship?
What does a parasite/host relationship have in common with a predator/prey relationship?
Why does one community replace another during ecological succession?
each new species that colonizes an area modifies the environment in a way that makes it more suitable for different species to thrive