Ecology

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What is ecology?

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Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, including the relationships among different organisms and their physical surroundings.

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What is a trophic level?

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A trophic level is each step in a food chain, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next.

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What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

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About 10 percent.

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What is the role of sunlight in ocean ecosystems?

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Sunlight is crucial for photosynthesis, which supports the growth of phytoplankton, the primary producers in ocean ecosystems.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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What does 'limiting nutrient' mean?

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A limiting nutrient is a nutrient that is scarce or cycles very slowly through an ecosystem, restricting the growth of organisms.

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What is the difference between a community and a population?

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A community is a group of different species living in the same area, while a population consists of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

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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 number of different species and genetic diversity.