Ecological Concepts Flashcard

Front

What is the role of primary producers in a food chain?

Back

Primary producers take energy from the sun and convert it into biomass, providing energy for higher trophic levels.

Front

What factors could explain a decline in a population over time?

Back

A decline in per capita birth rates can lead to a decrease in population size.

Front

What is Net Primary Production (NPP)?

Back

Net Primary Production (NPP) is the amount of primary producer biomass available for consumption after accounting for respiration.

Front

What is succession in ecological terms?

Back

Succession is a predictable change in community structure following a natural disturbance.

Front

How do you solve for B in the equation bNt=B?

Back

To solve for B, rearrange the equation to B = bNt.

Front

What are primary producers?

Back

Primary producers are organisms that produce biomass from photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how organisms obtain their energy.

Front

What is the difference between gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP)?

Back

GPP is the total amount of energy captured by primary producers, while NPP is GPP minus the energy used for respiration.

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.