HBIO UNIT 8 Ecology

Front

What is Nitrogen Fixation?

Back

The process of converting nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere into ammonia (NH3) or related compounds in soil, primarily carried out by bacteria.

Front

What is Chemotaxis?

Back

Movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus.

Front

How do you calculate population growth rate?

Back

Population Growth Rate = (Births - Deaths) / Initial Population. For example, if there are 50 births and 30 deaths in a population of 300, the growth rate is (50 - 30) / 300 = 20.

Front

What is the mark-recapture method?

Back

A technique used to estimate an animal population's size by capturing a sample, marking them, releasing them, and then recapturing another sample to see how many marked individuals are present.

Front

What does carrying capacity mean?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What role do bacteria play in ecosystems?

Back

Bacteria are crucial for processes like nitrogen fixation, decomposition, and nutrient cycling.

Front

Define population density.

Back

Population density is the number of individuals per unit area or volume.

Front

What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Back

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

Front

Explain the concept of ecological succession.

Back

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

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.