Ecology Study guide

Decomposer An organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms or animal wastes.

Producer An organism that produces its own food. Examples include algae and grass

Omnivore An organism that eats both producers and animals. For example: a bat and a human

Herbivore An organism that only eats producers

Carnivore An organism that eats animals. For example – an Anteater and a lion

Carrying Capacity The size (number) of a population of species an ecosystem can support.

Population The total number of one species in a given ecosystem.

Limiting factors A resource that is so scarce that it limits the size of a population that uses it. Examples include: food resources, land area, amount of water, etc.

Food web A diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem

2.Give an example of the following: Producer: Flower, grass, tree, algae Primary consumer: (Always a herbivore or omnivore) Fish, deer, bird Secondary Consumer: Snake, honey badger, fox Tertiary: Hawk, Human, Lion

3.What does the sun supply to an ecosystem? Energy

4.What do plants use the sun’s energy to make through the process of photosynthesis? Glucose (sugar/food)

5. A meadow experiences a sudden, unusual freeze 5. A meadow experiences a sudden, unusual freeze. Many plants and animals die as a result. The freeze is considered a ______________ _________________. Limiting factor

6A. Bacteria in human’s intestines 6A. Bacteria in human’s intestines. The bacteria help digest food and they produce vitamins that the body needs but cannot manufacture. The bacteria receive the nutrients they need. This is an example of _______________________. Mutualism

6b. A deer population and a rabbit population with limited resources experience _____________________________. Competition

C). Mistletoe is a plant that feeds on the branches of oak trees C) Mistletoe is a plant that feeds on the branches of oak trees. Mistletoe takes away from the nourishment of the trees. This is an example of ____________________. Parasitism

D). Tapeworms living inside of the digestive system of humans D) Tapeworms living inside of the digestive system of humans. This causes humans to not receive proper nutrition and become ill. This is an example of _______________________. Parasitism

E). Cattle egrets (birds)feed near grazing cattle E) Cattle egrets (birds)feed near grazing cattle. The cattle eat the grass which makes the insects fly. The birds eat the insects while the cattle (cows) are not harmed. This is an example of _________________________ Commensalism

F). A tick on a puppy. What is the tick’s relationship to the puppy Parasitic

G). The relationship between a prairie dog and a hungry coyote Predator - prey

7. What would happen if there were no fungi or bacteria (decomposers) on Earth? The Earth would have a lot of dead animals and trash that is not decomposing. Nutrients also would not be recycled

Use the chart below to answer the following questions (8-11) 8. Which of the living things in this food chain is a producer? Flower 9. Which is a secondary consumer (look closely)? Snake  10. Which organism is a herbivore? Grasshopper

11. About how much energy is passed on to each successive level in an energy pyramid? _______________________________. 10 percent

12. Using the diagram to the right, the bottom of the energy pyramid is made up of which kind of organisms? Producers ?

Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, and Biosphere 13. From smallest to largest, correctly list the levels of environmental organization Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, and Biosphere

14. Give three examples of abiotic parts of an ecosystem (non-living): Air, rocks, soil, sunlight, and water

15. What are biotic factors in an environment? Animals, plants, algae, fungus, bacteria

16.The graph to the left shows a number of seaside sparrows and little marsh crabs in an estuary habitat over a five year period. In which year was there a disease that killed off most of the cord grass, a source of food and shelter for animals in the marsh? Year 2

17. Why do animals not obtain nitrogen from the air? Nitrogen in the air is in a form animals can not use. Therefore, we have to get the Nitrogen from plants and animals that we eat.

18. What process that plants undergo removes carbon from the atmosphere? _______________________________ Photosynthesis

19. Which process occurs when water vapor passes through the leaves of plants? ____________________________ Transpiration

20. What happens to the carbon in an organism’s body when the organism dies? Decomposers break down the carbon in the organisms body and returns that carbon back to the environment

21. Which will MOST LIKELY happen to a population of grasshoppers in an ecosystem where a chemical kills all of the grass? A. The population will decrease because they lost a food supply

22.Circle the organism that would best fit into the food web on the left Owl

23. Where does the grass ultimately receive all its energy from? The sun

24. True or false: The relationship between the snake and mouse can be described as a predator prey relationship. TRUE

25. Parasite have relationships with their Hosts