APES Unit 2 Review

Front

What was the primary cause of the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event?

Back

An asteroid impact that caused rapid climate and habitat change.

Front

What is a climax community in ecology?

Back

A stable and mature ecological community that undergoes little or no change in species over time.

Front

What is primary succession?

Back

The process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as after a glacial retreat.

Front

What is island biogeography?

Back

A theory that explains the species diversity and richness on islands based on their size and distance from the mainland.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

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

Front

What is net primary productivity (NPP)?

Back

The rate at which all the autotrophs in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy; it is the difference between gross primary productivity and the energy used by producers for respiration.

Front

What is the significance of pioneer species in ecological succession?

Back

Pioneer species are the first organisms to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems, initiating the process of ecological succession.

Front

What are invasive species?

Back

Non-native species that spread widely in a new habitat and can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

What is seasonal migration?

Back

The regular movement of animals from one region to another in response to changes in climate, food availability, or breeding conditions.