Ecological Concepts and Variables

This video provides a comprehensive review of ecology, covering the six levels of ecological organization, the factors defining ecosystems, and the concept of a niche. It also explores community interactions such as predation, competition, and symbiosis. Additionally, the video explains taxonomy and the essentials of scientific graphing, including the roles of independent and dependent variables.

Which level of ecological organization includes all life on Earth?

• Ecosystem

• Community

• Biosphere

• Biome

What is a biome?

• The role of an organism in its habitat

• A collection of all living and non-living factors in an area

• A single species population

• A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

Which of the following is an abiotic factor?

• Bacteria

• Animals

• Temperature

• Plants

How do abiotic factors influence an ecosystem?

• They are part of the organism's niche

• They compete with organisms for resources

• They determine the success of organisms in their habitat

• They provide food for organisms

What is the difference between a niche and a habitat?

• A niche is a group of similar organisms, while a habitat is a single organism

• A niche is the role and lifestyle of an organism, while a habitat is just a location

• A niche is a type of ecosystem, while a habitat is a type of biome

• A niche is a location, while a habitat is a role

Which interaction involves one organism benefiting while the other is harmed?

• Competition

• Parasitism

• Commensalism

• Mutualism

What is mutualism?

• A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

• A relationship where organisms compete for resources

• A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

• A relationship where both organisms benefit

What is taxonomy?

• The analysis of food chains

• The study of organism interactions

• The classification and naming of organisms

• The study of ecosystems

In a scientific graph, what is usually plotted on the x-axis?

• Responding variable

• Dependent variable

• Control variable

• Independent variable

What is the role of the dependent variable in an experiment?

• It is the variable that is manipulated

• It is the variable that shows the effect of changes

• It is the variable that remains constant

• It is the variable that is not measured