1. Ecology Test
Study Guide Answers

2. Define the following:
autotroph- makes its own food; producer
Heterotroph- does not make its own food; consumers
Niche- the species’ role in the environment
Habitat- physical location in which a species lives
Abiotic factor- non-living factor (ex. Light)
Biotic factor- living factors (ex. Plants)
Community- a group of organisms of different species living together in a particular place
Biome- major ecosystem that occurs over a wide areas of land

3. i. Ecosystem diversity- encompasses the variety of habitats that occur within a region j. Species diversity- the variety and abundance of different types of organisms that inhabit an area k. Genetic diversity- combination of different genes found within a population of a single species and the pattern of variation found within different populations of the same species.

4. What is ecology?
The study of the interaction of living organisms with each other and their environment
2. What makes up the biosphere?
Atmosphere, land masses, ocean bottoms
3. Name 2 examples of producers.
Grass and trees
4. Name 2 examples of decomposers.
Fungi and bacteria
5. What do plants convert nitrogen into?
protein

5. 6. Which element is found in all living things. Carbon 7
6. Which element is found in all living things? Carbon 7. Explain pioneer species. The first species in an area 8. What are the 2 types of biomes? Aquatic and terrestrial 9. What is first formed from a pioneer species? Soil 10. What would be the primary producer of grassland? grass

6. 11. Give an example of an abiotic and biotic factor
11. Give an example of an abiotic and biotic factor. Abiotic- light; Biotic- plants 12. What is a carnivore? Give an example. Carnivore- eats other consumers; ex) tiger 13. Name everything that makes up an ecosystem. Community of organisms, energy, soil, water, weather 14. When an organism dies, what happens to the nitrogen? It is released by the action of the decomposers

7. 15. Precipitation and evaporation are important to which cycle
15. Precipitation and evaporation are important to which cycle? Water 16. Since individuals in a population tend to produce more than one offspring, what happens? Populations tend to increase in size 17. As a population reaches its carrying capacity, what will there be competition for? Food, shelter, makes

8. 18. Give an example of a density- independent factor. Severe weather 19. Give an example of a predator and prey relationship. Lion eating a zebra 20. Differentiate between parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Parasitism- one organism benefits at the expense of the other Mutualism- both organisms benefit Commensalism- one organism benefits and the other is not affected

9. 21. Give an example of parasitism. A tick feeding on a dog 22
21. Give an example of parasitism. A tick feeding on a dog 22. Give an example of commensalism. Barnacle attached to a whale 23. Give an example of mutualism. Flowering plants and bees that pollinate them 24. Describe the process of succession. The regular progression of species replacement in an environment. 25. What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? Primary succession- occurs in an area that has not been previously inhabited Secondary succession- occurs in an area that has been previously inhabited (existing soil) 26. Give 2 examples of secondary succession. Recover after a forest fire, and recovery of an abandoned field

10. 27. Give an example of primary succession
27. Give an example of primary succession. Bare rock from a lava flow 28. Give an example of an animal living in a temperate deciduous forest. Deer 29. Describe the characteristics of the temperate forest. 4 seasons, trees lose leaves in fall, birds migrate, racoons, deer, squirrels 30. When going from one trophic level to the next higher level, what happens to the amount of usable energy? Amount of usable energy decreases

11. 31. Explain the biogeochemical cycle
31. Explain the biogeochemical cycle. Water and minerals pass back and forth between biotic and abiotic portions of the environment 32. Describe grassland. Miles of grass, few trees, zebras, elephants 33. Describe temperate forest. See # Describe desert. Middle of the continent, wide range of temperature, very sandy soil, few plants, less rain than any other place on Earth

12. 35. Which macromolecule is nitrogen a component of. Protein 36
35. Which macromolecule is nitrogen a component of? Protein 36. How do humans affect the carbon cycle? Burning fossil fuels, destroying vegetation, and clearing forests 37. What are the 3 symbiotic relationships? Parasitism, mutualism, commensalism 38. Why are decomposers necessary for the continuation of life on Earth? Decomposers recycle nitrogen and carbon by releasing them from dead organisms. Without this action, the Earth would eventually be depleted of these essential materials that organisms require.