Ecological Concepts and Organization

Mr. Cornell introduces 11 key vocabulary terms for the ecology unit, explaining the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. He covers biotic and abiotic factors, the differences between habitat and niche, and the levels of organization from individual organisms to the biosphere.

What is the primary focus of ecology?

• The study of interactions between organisms and their environment

• The study of non-living components only

• The study of individual organisms

• The study of human impact on nature

Which of the following is a biotic factor?

• Soil

• Bacteria

• Water

• Temperature

Which of the following is an abiotic factor?

• Wind

• Plants

• Animals

• Fungi

What best describes a habitat?

• The non-living components of an ecosystem

• The role an organism plays in its ecosystem

• The place where an organism lives

• The interactions between different species

How is a niche different from a habitat?

• A niche is the role an organism plays in its ecosystem

• A niche is the physical space an organism occupies

• A niche is the same as a community

• A niche includes only non-living factors

What is the smallest level of ecological organization?

• Population

• Ecosystem

• Individual

• Community

What defines a population in ecological terms?

• All species in a biome

• All non-living components in an area

• All members of a single species in a specific area

• All living organisms in an area

Which level of organization includes both living and non-living components?

• Population

• Individual

• Community

• Ecosystem

What is a biome?

• The role of an organism in its ecosystem

• A single species in an area

• The entire planet Earth

• A major habitat area like a forest or desert

What does the biosphere encompass?

• A single ecosystem

• All biomes on Earth

• The entire planet Earth

• A specific community