Chapter 2 – Ecology – Flashcards
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Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms. True or False.
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True
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Ecologist mainly study green plants. True or False.
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False
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Most experiments in ecology are quick and done in a lab. True or False.
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False
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Models help ecologists control the many variables in their studies. True or False.
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True
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Population
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made up of individual organisms of the same species
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Abiotic Factors
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all nonliving things in an environment
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Ecosystem
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made up of the organisms and nonliving things in an area
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Biosphere
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Portion of the Earth that supports life
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Biotic Factors
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all living organisms in an environment
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Commensalism
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Biotic
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Competition
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Abiotic
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Habitat
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Abiotic
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Mutualism
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Biotic
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Niche
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Abiotic
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Abiotic or Biotic Factor. Predation
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Biotic
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Heterotrophs
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get energy by eating other organisms
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Omnivores
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Eat both plants and animals
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Herbivores
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eat only plants
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Autotrophs
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collect energy to produce their own food
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Carnivores
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eat only animals
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Detritivores
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eat or break down dead things
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What is the name for the total amount of living matter in each trophic level of an ecological pyramid?
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Biomass
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Why is an ecological pyramid smaller at the top than at the bottom?
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it loses 90% of energy from each level
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Carbon
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part of all organic compounds which make up living things
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Carbon Cycles
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it cycles through the environment due to the flow of energy in ecosystems
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What several processes is the carbon cycle made up of?
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respiration, photosynthesis, and decomposition
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What are carbon's major reservoirs?
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atmosphere, water, and the living organisms
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Nitrogen
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a nutrient that organisms need to produce proteins
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Atmosphere
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plants and animals cannot use the nitrogen that makes up a large percentage
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Nitrogen Fixation
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process by which nitrogen is captured and converted into a form that is usable by plants
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When does nitrogen enter the food web?
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nitrogen enters the food web when plants absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil and use them to make proteins
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How do consumers get nitrogen?
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by eating plants or animals that contain nitrogen. Nitrogen is returned to the soil when animals urinate or when organisms die and decay.
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What do decomposers do?
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break down organic matter found in organisms into ammonia. This compound is changed by organisms in the soil intio other nitrogen compounds that can be used by plants.
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Denitrification
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process in which some soil bacteria convert nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas which returns to the atmosphere
