NC Biology EOC Review: Ecosystems

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

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

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Front

Define predation.

Back

Predation is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and kills another organism (the prey) for food.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants and algae, convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

Explain the concept of trophic levels.

Back

Trophic levels represent the hierarchical positions in a food chain, where each level is defined by how organisms obtain energy: producers (1st level), primary consumers (2nd level), secondary consumers (3rd level), and so on.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels.

Front

Define competition in an ecological context.

Back

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same limited resources (such as food, water, or space) in an ecosystem.

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship between two species where both benefit from the interaction, such as bees pollinating flowers.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species?

Back

Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance, helping to maintain the structure and diversity of the community.

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, leading to a more stable community.