Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems and Their Impact on Biodiversity

Paul Andersen explains interdependent relationships in ecosystems, starting with basic needs of animals and plants. He discusses producers, consumers, and decomposers, emphasizing the importance of food webs. The video covers ecosystem health, invasive species, and levels of ecology, including biotic and abiotic factors. It concludes with population dynamics, exponential growth, and carrying capacity, using examples like wolves in Yellowstone Park.

What do meerkats primarily rely on for their survival?

• Light and air

• Water and carbon dioxide

• Insects and suitable temperature

• Shelter and minerals

Which of the following is a producer in an ecosystem?

• Frog

• Snake

• Phytoplankton

• Coyote

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

• They produce their own food

• They consume producers

• They compete for resources

• They recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem

How can an invasive species like the zebra mussel affect a food web?

• By increasing the number of producers

• By disrupting the balance and reducing biodiversity

• By providing more food for consumers

• By enhancing the growth of native species

What does the term 'biosphere' refer to in ecology?

• A group of populations

• A single organism

• A single community

• All ecosystems on the planet

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

• A tiger hunting a deer

• A clownfish and a sea anemone

• A wolf eating an elk

• A zebra mussel in Lake Michigan

Which factor is NOT considered abiotic?

• Minerals

• Temperature

• Predation

• Water

What is the term for the maximum number of organisms an area can support?

• Biotic potential

• Carrying capacity

• Population density

• Exponential growth

What happens to a population when it reaches its carrying capacity?

• It decreases to zero

• It stabilizes and fluctuates around a certain number

• It splits into multiple populations

• It continues to grow exponentially

What is the primary cause of population oscillation in ecosystems?

• Lack of competition

• Constant resource availability

• Predator-prey interactions

• Stable environmental conditions