Ecology Terms

It is the disappearance from the biosphere due to the death of the last species member.

• overexploitation

• extinction

• danger

• adaptation

Which statement provides the best explanation for the difference in biomass of organisms found at each trophic level?

• Organisms at higher trophic levels have less energy available to them than organisms at lower trophic levels.

• Organisms at higher trophic levels require smaller habitats than organisms at lower trophic levels.

• Organisms at lower trophic levels provide less energy than organisms at higher trophic levels.

• Organisms at lower trophic levels outcompete organisms at higher trophic levels.

Which of the following is NOT a biogeochemical cycle?

• Carbon cycle

• Nitrogen cycle

• Hydrologic cycle

• Biodiversity cycle

What is the primary goal of biodiversity conservation?

• To increase the use of natural resources

• To ensure all species survive at similar rates

• To preserve the variety and variability of life on Earth

• To promote the use of monocultures in agriculture

Which stage of ecological succession involves the establishment of small plants and mosses on bare rock?

• Climax community

• Secondary succession

• Primary succession

• Pioneer stage

In an ecosystem, what is the term used for the rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds in an ecosystem?

• Biomass

• Primary productivity

• Trophic level transfer

• Consumer metabolism

Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle?

• They fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

• They convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

• They break down organic matter, releasing nitrogen into the soil as ammonia.

• They consume nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

What is the significance of keystone species in biodiversity conservation?

• They are the most abundant species in an ecosystem.

• They have minimal impact on the structure of an ecological community.

• They play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

• They are typically the top predators in the food chain.

Which term describes the movement of energy from primary producers through herbivores to carnivores and finally decomposers in an ecosystem?

• Energy pyramid

• Food chain

• Biomass transfer

• Ecological web