Ecology Review

Front

What are biogeochemical cycles?

Back

Biogeochemical cycles are pathways that involve biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors to move nutrients through an environment.

Front

What happens to a population nearing its carrying capacity?

Back

A population nearing its carrying capacity experiences intense competition for resources.

Front

What is an invasive species?

Back

An invasive species is a non-native species that can out-compete other species and grow uncontrollably in a new environment.

Front

How does a decrease in hawk population affect lizard population?

Back

A decrease in the hawk population would cause an increase in the lizard population due to reduced predation.

Front

What is an omnivore?

Back

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals. For example, a mouse is an omnivore.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

Define carrying capacity.

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Front

Explain the concept of a food web.

Back

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

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 more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.