Ecology Review

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web that indicates the organism's role in the flow of energy and nutrients. Examples include producers (level 1), herbivores (level 2), and carnivores (level 3).

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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, such as after a volcanic eruption. Secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but soil and some organisms still remain, like after a forest fire.

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What is an invasive species?

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An invasive species is a non-native organism that, when introduced to a new environment, disrupts the local ecosystem, often leading to negative impacts on native species and biodiversity.

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How does energy transfer between trophic levels?

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Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient; typically, only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed to the next. For example, if producers have 1000 Kcal, herbivores (level 2) will have about 100 Kcal.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels.

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Define predator/prey relationship.

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A predator/prey relationship is an interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and consumes another organism (the prey), influencing population dynamics in an ecosystem.

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What role do herbivores play in an ecosystem?

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Herbivores are primary consumers that feed on producers (plants), transferring energy from the plant level to higher trophic levels, such as carnivores.

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What is ecological succession?

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Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, involving a series of stages from pioneer species to a mature ecosystem.

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What is a keystone species?

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A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

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What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

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Biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity and stability, providing resilience against environmental changes and supporting a wide range of ecosystem services.