Ecology Study online at quizlet.com/_2dqy57 1. Acid Rain 7. Ozone Layer Depletion - Air pollutants (Sulfur and Nitrogen) mix with water in the atmosphere - This rain destroys wildlife and habitats 2. Exotic Species - Species that are brought into a new area will try to find their own niche - this can disrupt other niche's and the overall balance of an ecosystem 8. Water Pollution - The ozone is a thin layer of gas around the Earth that protects us from the sun's harmful UV rays. - Air pollution has caused this layer to wear down, causing skin cancer rates to increase and Global Warming 3. FOUR types of Consumers: Herbivores - eat only plants Carnivores - eat only animals Omnivores - eats plants or animals Scavengers - feed on dead organisms (Crows) 4. The Greenhouse Effect PCB's and other wastes make fresh water toxic to humans 9. What are Abiotic Factors? - Carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere traps the sun's rays and causes the temperature of the Earth to rise - The effects of this cause Global Warming: -Melting of the Polar ice caps - Rise in sea levels - Worldwide flooding 10. What are Biotic Factors? All non-living things in an ecosystem Ex: light, water, temperature, acidity etc... 5. How much energy is at the bottom of an Energy Pyramid? 6. How mush energy is at the top of an Energy Pyramid? 100% 10% All living things in an ecosystem Ex: trees, squirrels etc...
11. What are Decomposers? 15. What are Natural Resources? 12. What are endangered species? Feed on dead organisms/waste to return the nutrients back to the Earth Ex: Bacteria, Fungi, Mushrooms 16. What are Pioneer Organisms? Things on Earth that people need to live The first organisms to inhabit an area (lichens) Plants and animals that are in danger of becoming extinct 17. What are pollutants? 13. What are Fossil Fuels? Anything that causes pollution Ex: Factory smoke stacks, car emmisions 18. What are reservoirs? - Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas, and they are currently the world's primary energy source - They have a negative impact on our Earth 14. What are Limiting Factors? Things that can limit the size of a population Ex: Available resources Competition Predator/Prey Cycles Lakes that cities store water in
19. What are Symbiotic Relationships? 24. What is a Climax Community? Relationships between two different types of organisms living in a close association that benefits at least one of them. 25. What is a community? Succession continues until a mature, stable community is reached 20. What does extinct mean? All the different populations in a given area (Species interaction) An organism that is no longer in existence Ex: Dinosaurs 26. What is a Consumer/Heterotroph? 21. What does finite mean? A limited amount Ex: We have a finite amount of water 22. What does infinite mean? An organism that feeds off of other organisms Ex: Humans An unlimited amount of a resource Ex: We have an infinite amount of Sun 23. What is a Biosphere? Where life exists on Earth
27. What is a Food Chain? 31. What is an Energy Pyramid? A series of organisms through which food energy is passed Sun -> Producer (plant) -> Primary Consumer (Herbivore) ->Secondary Consumer (Carnivore/Omnivore) -> Decomposer 32. What is a Niche? -It shows the amount of energy available in an ecosystem - As food moves through the food chain, energy is lost as heat 28. What is a Food Web? 29. What is a Habitat? An interconnected food chain The role/job an organisms plays in the environment - every species occupies one niche Ex: A Decomposer's niche is to break down dead organisms to return the nutrients to the Earth 30. What is an Ecosystem? The home an organism lives 33. What is a nonrenewable resource? The interaction of the living organisms and the non-living factors in one place A resource that cannot last forever Ex: Air, water, oil
34. What is a population? 38. What is a species? All individuals of a particular species in a given area Ex: dogs, snakes, The DeQuarto family etc... 39. What is Biodiversity? Organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring 35. What is a Predator? 36. What is a Producer/Autotroph? A carnivore that attacks and kills its prey 40. What is and feeds on its body Carrying Capacity? 41. What is Competition? - The amount of variety in a community - both living and nonliving organisms - The more Biodiversity in community, the more stable the ecosystem The maximum number of organisms of one species that an ecosystem can support (affected by both Biotic and Abiotic factors) 37. What is a renewable resource? An organism that makes it own food Ex: Plants A resource that can be used over and over again Ex: Sun, trees - The struggle of organisms for similar resources - Overlapping of niches leads to competition - Those better adapted will survive (Evolution) - It leads to balance/equilibrium between organisms
42. What is conservation? 46. What is Ecological Succession? The process by which a community is replaced by another community 47. What is Ecology? The wise use and preservation of natural resources Ex: saving water, using windmills 43. What is Deforestation? The study of the interactions among organisms and their environment Cutting down of forests faster than they can grow back 48. What is Human Ecology? 44. What is depleting resources? The relationships between humans and their environment 49. What is Prey? 45. What is Dynamic Equilibrium? Running out of important, everyday resources such as coal, oil, fresh water, trees etc... As one population increases, it is held in check by other environmental factors or species ** Things are constantly changing but stay in balance What a predator feeds upon
50. What is the biggest problem that our Earth has? Humans and their abuse of our Earth and it resources Why/How? - Our population is growing & we have a bigger effect on our environment - We are destroying natural habitats with building malls, houses etc... - With deforestation and building, we are causing a loss of Biodiversity in our environment - Poor land use - we need to rotate crops to save land - Over-hunting- leads to endangered organisms - Pollution - adding anything into the environment makes it less fit for human use 54. What is the symbiotic relationship of Mutualism? 55. What is the symbiotic relationship of Parasitism? Both organisms benefit (+/+) 51. What is the Carbon Cycle? One organism benefits while the other organism is harmed (+/-) Ex: Tick on human 56. What is the Water Cycle? 52. What is the Oxygen Cycle? 57. Where are there the most organisms in an Energy Pyramid? At the bottom - producers 53. What is the symbiotic relationship of Commensalism? 58. Where is there the most energy in an Energy Pyramid? At the bottom in the producers One organism benefits and the other is not affected in any way (+/0) Ex: Moss hanging in a tree