Chapter 21 - Ecology

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit from the interaction.

Front

What is an abiotic factor?

Back

A non-living component of an ecosystem, such as water temperature, sunlight, and minerals.

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Front

What happens to a population when the death rate exceeds the birth rate?

Back

The population will shrink.

Front

What does a food web illustrate?

Back

All connections of energy flow throughout all organisms in a habitat.

Front

Define ecology.

Back

The branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Front

What is competition in ecology?

Back

An interaction between organisms or species in which both are harmed as they compete for limited resources.

Front

What is nitrogen fixation?

Back

The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds in soil.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

The position an organism occupies in a food chain, which is determined by its feeding relationships.

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.