Ecology Basics
Define a biome.
A large region characterized by specific climate, soil, and organisms (e.g., rainforest, tundra).
Define the term gross primary productivity
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) is the total amount of energy captured by producers (usually plants) in an ecosystem through photosynthesis over a given period of time. It represents the total energy input into the ecosystem before any is used by the plants for respiration.
This international agreement bans the trade of endangered species and their parts, such as ivory and rhino horn.
What is CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)?
this is the process of breeding animals in controlled environments, such as zoos, wildlife reserves, or special breeding centers, with the goal of increasing population numbers of endangered species.
What is Captive breeding?
Define native and invasive species.
Native: naturally found. Invasive: non-native, disrupts ecosystems.
Define an ecosystem.
A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting together.
Why is photosynthesis vital to the carbon cycle?
It removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores carbon in organic molecules
This unique mammal, often referred to as the "scaly anteater," is the most trafficked mammal in the world and a high-priority EDGE species.
Answer:
🛎️ What is the pangolin?
Describe and evaluate CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulates international trade in wild animals and plants to ensure it does not threaten their survival.
✅ Successes: Protected thousands of species from overexploitation; raised global awareness.
⚠️ Limitations: Difficult to enforce, especially in countries with limited resources; illegal trade still occurs.
How do invasive species impact biodiversity?
They outcompete native species and disrupt food webs.
What is a population and a community?
Population: members of the same species in one area. Community: all different species in one area.
What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Question:
This captive breeding success story brought a species back from only 27 individuals in the 1980s to over 500 today in the southwestern United States.
Answer:
🛎️ What is the California condor?
What are human impacts on Antarctica?
Pollution, tourism, climate change., ozone depletion; overfishing; future mineral and oil extraction; scientific research
What are benefits of conserving biodiversity?
Stability, medicine, ecosystem services, food security.
Define habitat and niche.
Habitat: where an organism lives.
Niche: the role it plays in its environment.
Write the equation for aerobic respiration.
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP)
This island nation became a global example of conservation success by protecting over 40% of its land and restoring native forest ecosystems.
Answer:
🛎️ What is Costa Rica?
How do we manage human activity on Antarctica?
Solutions: The Antarctic treaty 1959, protected areas; fisheries regulation, prohibit mineral extraction; protect against invasive; monitoring tourism and use of permits, waste limits.
What are human impacts on tropical rainforests?
Deforestation leading to fragmentation, loss of species, climate change; timber/fuelwood collection; agricultural expansion; mineral extraction; HEP; climate change;
Explain how abiotic factors affect diversity.
Abiotic factors influence which organisms can survive and how many.
Which ecological pyramid(s) can be drawn upside down?
Pyramid of Biomass:
Inverted example: In the ocean, tiny phytoplankton (producers) have low biomass but reproduce very fast.
They support larger biomass of zooplankton and fish, so the pyramid can be inverted.
Pyramid of Numbers:
Inverted example: A single large tree (1 producer) can support hundreds of herbivores (like insects), which may in turn support fewer predators.
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This international agreement regulates the conservation of whales and has banned commercial whaling since 1986, though some countries still object.
Answer:
🛎️ What is the International Whaling Commission (IWC)?
Describe and explain EDGE
EDGE stands for Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered. It’s a conservation approach that prioritizes species based on two main factors:
Evolutionary Distinctiveness – species that have few or no close relatives and represent a large amount of unique evolutionary history.
Global Endangerment – species that are at high risk of extinction.
✅ Benefits:
Protects unique biodiversity.
Encourages research and funding for overlooked species.
Highlights the importance of evolutionary history in conservation.
⚠️ Challenges:
Less public appeal than charismatic species like pandas.
Requires global cooperation and long-term commitment.
How can we manage deforestation?
Solutions: protected areas; reforestation; conservation zones; legislation and international agreements; debt for nature swaps; sustainable harvesting