Ecology Concepts Review

What does the term 'biodiversity' refer to?

• The number of interactions between organisms

• The number of non-living things in an environment

• The number of different organisms living in a given area

• The number of different ecosystems in an area

Which of the following is an example of an autotroph?

• Deer

• Fungi

• Algae

• Rabbit

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• Consuming other organisms

• Competing for resources

• Recycling dead organic material into inorganic material

• Producing their own food

Why is a food web considered better than a food chain?

• It does not include producers

• It shows multiple organisms all connected

• It only includes carnivores

• It shows a single pathway for energy

What does an energy pyramid illustrate?

• The recycling of nutrients

• The stability of an ecosystem

• The flow of energy through a food web

• The number of organisms at each level

What is the initial stage of ecological succession called?

• Climax community

• Pioneer stage

• Intermediate stage

• Final stage

What is the most stable stage of ecological succession?

• Initial stage

• Climax community

• Intermediate stage

• Pioneer stage

What does the term 'carrying capacity' refer to?

• The number of different species in an ecosystem

• The amount of energy available in an ecosystem

• The minimum number of organisms needed for an ecosystem

• The maximum number of organisms that can live in a given area

What are limiting factors?

• Factors that increase the population size

• Factors that are infinite in an ecosystem

• Factors that only affect non-living things

• Factors that limit the number of organisms in an area

In a predator-prey relationship, which population is typically larger?

• Both are equal

• Predator

• Prey

• Depends on the ecosystem