AICE Unit 3 Rev

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, often maintaining biodiversity by controlling prey populations.

Front

Define a community in ecological terms.

Back

A community is two or more different populations in an area that interact with one another.

Front

What is interspecific competition?

Back

A relationship between two different species in which both species compete for limited resources, negatively affecting both.

Front

What process do producers at hydrothermal vents use to survive?

Back

Chemosynthesis, a process where organisms convert inorganic compounds into organic matter using chemical energy.

Front

What is the significance of a keystone species in an ecosystem?

Back

The removal of a keystone species from a food web would cause major disruption, affecting the entire ecosystem.

Front

What are biotic factors?

Back

Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Front

What is the difference between a population and a community?

Back

A population consists of individuals of the same species in a given area, while a community includes multiple populations of different species.

Front

What is the role of primary producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Primary producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight or chemical energy into organic matter, forming the base of the food web.

Front

Define symbiosis.

Back

Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

Front

What is species richness?

Back

Species richness refers to the number of different species present in a given area.