Rambert Ecology Review

Front

What type of growth is characterized by a rapid increase in population size when resources are abundant?

Back

Exponential growth.

Front

What is the effect of removing a keystone species from an ecosystem?

Back

It can cause a trophic cascade and disrupt the ecosystem balance.

Front

What term describes the process of nutrient over-enrichment in a lake, often due to fertilizers?

Back

Eutrophication.

Front

What percentage of energy is typically lost as it moves up each trophic level in an energy pyramid?

Back

10%.

Front

What are resources such as food, water, sunlight, shelter, and space often referred to in ecology?

Back

Limiting factors.

Front

What is the term for the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely?

Back

Carrying capacity.

Front

What is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy?

Back

Photosynthesis.

Front

What is a trophic cascade?

Back

A series of changes in the population sizes of organisms at different trophic levels in an ecosystem, often triggered by the removal of a keystone species.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Back

Biotic factors are living components (like plants and animals), while abiotic factors are non-living components (like water and temperature).

Front

What is biodiversity and why is it important for ecosystems?

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, and it is important for ecosystem resilience and stability.