Living Environment Ecology Review

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably.

Front

What happens to predator and prey populations when a species goes extinct?

Back

The predators of the extinct species may decrease, while the prey of that species may increase.

Front

What is the 10% rule in energy transfer?

Back

Only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level; the rest is lost as heat.

Front

What is an invasive species?

Back

A non-native species that disrupts the ecosystem by outcompeting native species for resources.

Front

What role do keystone species play in an ecosystem?

Back

Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

Define ecosystem.

Back

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their physical environment.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

Each step in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.