Ecology - EOC Review

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What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, and climate).

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Define density-dependent factors.

Back

Density-dependent factors are environmental factors that affect a population's growth in relation to its density, such as competition, predation, and disease.

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What is nitrogen fixation?

Back

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into a form usable by plants, typically ammonia (NH3), by certain bacteria.

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Explain the concept of an energy pyramid.

Back

An energy pyramid illustrates the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, showing that energy decreases as it moves from producers to top predators.

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What is eutrophication?

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Eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients (like phosphorus), leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

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Define carrying capacity.

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

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What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

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Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

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Explain the difference between density-independent and density-dependent factors.

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Density-independent factors affect population size regardless of its density (e.g., natural disasters), while density-dependent factors have a greater impact as population density increases (e.g., disease).

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What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

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

Front

Define the term 'trophic level.'

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A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, defined by how organisms obtain energy, such as producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers.