Ecology (Stability and Change in Populations and Ecosystems)

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What is ecology?

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Ecology is the study of interactions between living organisms and their environment, including how populations and ecosystems change over time.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through the system.

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What is primary succession?

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Primary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat.

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What is secondary succession?

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Secondary succession is the process of ecological change that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but soil and some organisms still remain.

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What is biodiversity?

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

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What is an invasive species?

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An invasive species is a non-native organism that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem, economy, or human health.

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How does overfishing affect marine ecosystems?

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Overfishing can lead to the depletion of fish populations, disrupt food webs, and cause imbalances in marine ecosystems.

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What is the role of keystone species in an ecosystem?

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A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance, often maintaining the structure of the ecosystem.

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What is the impact of oil spills on ecosystems?

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Oil spills can severely harm both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, leading to decreased biodiversity and long-term ecological damage.

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What is the relationship between predators and prey in an ecosystem?

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Predators and prey have a dynamic relationship where the population of one affects the population of the other, maintaining balance in the ecosystem.