Ecology Review

Front

What is an energy pyramid?

Back

An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy decreases as it moves from producers to top predators.

Front

Which organisms have the most energy in an energy pyramid?

Back

Producers have the most energy in an energy pyramid, as they convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

Front

What is the difference between exponential and logistic growth?

Back

Exponential growth occurs when resources are unlimited, leading to a rapid increase in population size. Logistic growth occurs when resources are limited, resulting in a population that grows rapidly at first and then levels off as it reaches carrying capacity.

Front

What is eutrophication?

Back

Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next, typically categorized as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Front

What happens to the population of herbivores if the population of producers decreases?

Back

If the population of producers decreases, the population of herbivores is likely to decrease as well, due to a lack of food resources.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem and making them available for producers.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy and nutrients circulate.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.