Population Ecology Review

Front

What is population ecology?

Back

Population ecology is the study of how populations of organisms interact with their environment and how these interactions affect population size, distribution, and dynamics.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

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Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but soil and some organisms still remain.

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What are decomposers and their role in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers are organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead material, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for producers.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Front

Define the term 'ecosystem'.

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Front

What is the biosphere?

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The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, representing the zone of life on Earth, where land, water, and the atmosphere interact.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Front

What are the levels of ecological organization from smallest to largest?

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The levels of ecological organization are: organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere.

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What is carrying capacity?

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Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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Front

What is a niche?

Back

A niche is the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.