Unit 1 Ecology Test Review 24-25

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely without being degraded.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

Each step in the transfer of energy and matter within a biological community.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Back

Autotrophs produce their own food (e.g., plants), while heterotrophs consume other organisms for energy (e.g., animals).

Front

What is a parasitic relationship?

Back

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, such as a tapeworm in a dog.

Front

What is the role of predators in an ecosystem?

Back

Predators help control the population of prey species, maintaining balance in the ecosystem.

Front

What is an example of mutualism?

Back

A bee pollinates a flower while obtaining nectar, benefiting both the bee and the flower.

Front

What is the significance of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?

Back

Phytoplankton are primary producers that form the base of the aquatic food web.

Front

What happens to a predator population if its prey population decreases?

Back

The predator population may also decrease due to a lack of food resources.

Front

What is the impact of human activities on ecosystems?

Back

Human activities, such as hunting and habitat destruction, can drastically alter population dynamics and ecosystem balance.