Unit 3 - Ecological Stability & Change REVIEW

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What is biodiversity?

Back

Biodiversity refers to all of the plants and animals living in a specific area, encompassing the variety of life forms and their interactions.

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What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) interacting with their physical environment (air, water, soil) in a specific area.

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What is urbanization and how does it affect species?

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Urbanization is the process of developing land for cities and towns, which often leads to habitat loss, making species threatened or endangered.

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What are density-independent limiting factors?

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Density-independent limiting factors are environmental conditions that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters like hurricanes and fires.

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What is a density-dependent limiting factor?

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Density-dependent limiting factors are conditions that affect population size based on the population's density, such as disease and competition for resources.

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What is competition in ecological terms?

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Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources (food, space, mates) in an ecosystem, often resulting in negative effects for both.

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What is the largest cause of species becoming threatened or endangered?

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The largest cause is urbanization and loss of habitat, which reduces the living space and resources available for species.

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What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?

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Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem (like climate and soil), while biotic factors are living components (like plants and animals).

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What is an example of a density-independent limiting factor?

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Examples include natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.

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What is the role of disease in population dynamics?

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Disease is a density-dependent limiting factor that can significantly reduce population sizes, especially when populations are crowded.