Ecology

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What is biodiversity and why is it important in ecosystems?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is important because it contributes to ecosystem resilience, provides resources for food, medicine, and materials, and supports ecosystem services such as pollination and nutrient cycling.

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What is habitat fragmentation and how does it affect biodiversity?

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Habitat fragmentation is the process where large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches. It affects biodiversity by reducing the size of habitats, making it difficult for species to find mates, food, and migrate, leading to population declines and increased extinction risk.

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What are density-dependent factors in population ecology?

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Density-dependent factors are environmental factors whose effects on a population vary with population density. Examples include competition for resources, predation, disease, and waste accumulation.

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What is the carrying capacity of an environment?

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The carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

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How does salinity affect biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems?

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Salinity affects biodiversity by determining which species can survive in a given environment. Species adapted to specific salinity levels may not survive if conditions change, leading to decreased biodiversity.

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What is exponential growth in a population?

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Exponential growth occurs when a population increases by a constant proportion over time, resulting in a rapid increase in numbers, typically represented by a J-shaped curve on a graph.

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What is an example of a density-independent factor?

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An example of a density-independent factor is the average rainfall of a region, as it affects populations regardless of their density.

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What role do keystone species play in an ecosystem?

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Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance. They help maintain the structure of an ecological community.

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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, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but soil and some organisms still remain.

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How do invasive species impact native biodiversity?

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Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, introduce diseases, and disrupt local ecosystems, leading to declines in native biodiversity.