APES Semester Exam Review

Front

What is net primary production?

Back

Net primary production is the energy captured by photosynthesis minus the energy lost through cellular respiration in an ecosystem.

Front

Why are sea otters important to their ecosystem?

Back

Sea otters are crucial because they feed on sea urchins, which can overgraze kelp forests, thus maintaining the health of these ecosystems.

Front

What does habitat diversity refer to?

Back

Habitat diversity describes the variety of different habitats within an ecosystem or the world.

Front

What is age structure in a population?

Back

Age structure refers to the distribution of individuals of different ages within a population.

Front

What characterizes Stage 4 of population growth?

Back

In Stage 4, the total population is leveling out, indicating a stable population size.

Front

Define biodiversity.

Back

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food web.

Front

Explain the concept of carrying capacity.

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species?

Back

Keystone species are critical to the structure of an ecosystem; their removal can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem.

Front

Define ecological succession.

Back

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following a disturbance.