Ecology Basics
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
What is ecology?
The continuous cycling of water between atmosphere, land, and oceans.
What is the water cycle?
The point where photosynthesis = respiration.
What is the light compensation point (LCP)?
Animals that eat both plants and animals.
What are omnivores?
The process of maintaining stable internal conditions.
What is homeostasis?
Put these in order: individual, ecosystem, biome, population, community, biosphere.
What is individual → population → community → ecosystem → biome → biosphere?
Sewer systems that combine wastewater and stormwater, often overflowing during storms.
What are combined sewer outfalls (CSOs)?
A plant adaptation to avoid herbivory.
What are thorns, toxins, or tough leaves?
Specialized gut bacteria in ruminants help break down this tough plant molecule.
What is cellulose?
An animal that relies on external heat sources for body temperature.
What is an ectotherm?
The difference between climate and weather.
What is climate = long-term patterns in an area
Weather = short-term, local conditions?
The rapid temperature change zone in water bodies.
What is the thermocline?
Shade-tolerant plants often have higher amounts of this pigment.
What is chlorophyll?
Carnivores usually have shorter GI tracts because their food is
What is easier to digest?
Mammals and birds that maintain constant internal temperature are called this.
What are endotherms/homeotherms?
This effect causes winds to curve instead of moving straight.
What is the Coriolis effect?
These nutrient-rich zones form when deep water rises to the surface.
What are upwelling zones?
This alternative photosynthesis pathway allows plants to survive arid conditions by fixing CO₂ at night.
What is CAM photosynthesis?
Grants’ research showed finch beak depth increased after this event.
What is a drought in the Galápagos?
A short-term daily drop in body temperature, like in hummingbirds.
What is torpor?
Soil formation is influenced by five factors. Name three.
What are parent material, climate, biotic factors, topography, and time?
The process of CO₂ dissolving into seawater, lowering pH and harming coral reefs.
What is ocean acidification?
C₄ plants evolved this advantage in hot, dry climates.
What is minimizing photorespiration by concentrating CO₂?
A behavioral strategy desert animals use to avoid heat and water loss.
What is burrowing or being nocturnal?
Seasonal long-term torpor in animals like bears or ground squirrels.
What is hibernation?