Ecology Review

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What is nitrogen fixation?

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The process by which bacteria convert nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants.

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What is denitrification?

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The process in the nitrogen cycle where nitrates (NO3-) are converted back into nitrogen gas (N2) and released into the atmosphere.

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What are tertiary consumers?

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Organisms that are carnivores and occupy the top level of the food web, feeding on secondary consumers.

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What is commensalism?

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A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

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What are pioneer species?

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The first organisms to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems, initiating ecological succession.

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What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Organisms, such as plants, that produce their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the food web.

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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 ecosystem but soil remains.

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What is a food web?

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A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow.

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What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

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Biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity, stability, and resilience, allowing ecosystems to better withstand environmental changes.

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What is an ecosystem?

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A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.