Ecology Basics
What is an autotroph? Give one example.
Organism that produces its own food using light or chemical energy. Plants, phytoplankton, algae, some bacteria.
Explain how runoff contributes to eutrophication.
Excess nitrogen and/or phosphorus -> overgrowth of phytoplankton & algae -> sunlight blocked, oxygen depleted
Explain what a trophic level is and how energy flows between different levels in a food chain.
Position in food chain, 10% energy passed on to next level
What is hypoxia and how does it affect aquatic life?
State or condition of lacking oxygen. Causes aquatic life to flee or die.
In biogeochemical cycles, what are reservoirs, sinks, and sources?
Reservoir - location or pool where a nutrient is stored
Sink - absorbs more of nutrient than is released
Source - releases more of nutrient than is absorbed
Name 3 types of species interactions and explain whether the effect on each species is positive, negative, or neutral
Mutualism (+/+), parasitism (+/-), competition (-/-), predation (+/-), herbivory (+/-)
Compare population ecology and community ecology.
Community ecology - focuses on various species interactions within a community
Population ecology - focuses on single species and dynamics within its population
Explain natural selection in your own words.
Selection of certain characteristics over others, leading them to become more frequent in future generations over time.
Choose one biogeochemical cycle you know best (carbon, hydrogen, phosphorus, or nitrogen) and describe one way the nutrient moves through the cycle.
Phosphorus: weathering, uptake by organisms
What is the difference between an introduced, non-native, and invasive species?
Introduced - brought to a new area by humans
Non-native - living outside it's native range
Invasive - non-native species with rapid establishment and harmful impact