Ecology & Evolution

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What is biodiversity?

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation, and ecosystem diversity.

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Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?

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Biodiversity helps maintain ecosystem stability, resilience, and productivity. It minimizes the effects of losing a species and ensures the availability of resources.

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What is the difference between exponential growth and logistical growth?

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Exponential growth occurs when a population grows without any limits, while logistical growth occurs when a population's growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment.

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Define commensalism.

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

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What is an autotroph?

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An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

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What is a heterotroph?

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A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and instead obtains nutrients by consuming other organisms.

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What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

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The carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

Explain the concept of ecological succession.

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

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction.

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Define competition in an ecological context.

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Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or mates.