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Biology - Ecology

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    Study Guide Biology – Ecology 1. Quiz Ecology 1. Question Which of the following is a group of individuals belonging to one species? Answer Choices • community • ecosystem • population Correct Answer population Why This Is Correct A population consists of all individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time. A community includes different species living together, and an ecosystem includes both living organisms and nonliving factors like water and soil. For example: All the deer living in a forest make up a population. 2. Question Which of the following includes interactions between communities and their physical environments?

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    Study Guide Answer Choices • biosphere • ecosystem • population Correct Answer ecosystem Why This Is Correct An ecosystem includes living organisms (communities) and the nonliving parts of their environment, such as air, water, soil, and sunlight. It focuses on how these living and nonliving components interact with each other. For example: A pond ecosystem includes fish, plants, microorganisms, water, sunlight, and nutrients — all interacting together. 3. Question Which of the following is a collection of different populations, each with its own niche? Answer Choices • community • ecosystem • population Correct Answer community

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    Study Guide Why This Is Correct A community is made up of different populations of different species living in the same area. Each population has its own role, or niche , within that community. For example: In a forest community, trees, birds, insects, and deer are all different populations, each performing a specific role in the ecosystem. 2. Communities Living organisms do not exist alone. Plants, animals, and other organisms live together in communities . You can find communities in places like deserts, forests, grasslands, and salt marshes . A community is made up of many different populations living in the same place at the same time and interacting with one another. 2.1 Habitat and Niche Within a community, each population has both a habitat and a niche . • Habitat The physical place where an organism lives (for example, a pond, forest floor, or tree canopy). • Niche The role or job an organism has in the community. A niche describes how a population: • Gets its food • Reproduces • Survives climate conditions • Uses space • Interacts with other organisms • Is active during certain times of day or year

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    Study Guide In simple terms, a habitat is where an organism lives, and a niche is how it lives. Competitive Exclusion Principle The competitive exclusion principle states that two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place at the same time for long periods . Eventually, one species will outcompete the other or be forced to change its niche. 2.2 Symbiosis Symbiosis is a close and long - lasting relationship between two different populations living together in a community. There are several types of symbiotic relationships: 2.2.1 Mutualism • Both populations benefit • Example: Lichens , which are formed by a fungus and an alga living together 2.2.2 Commensalism • One population benefits , and the other is neither helped nor harmed • Example: Humans and the bacteria in their intestines 2.2.3 Parasitism • One population benefits , while the other is harmed • Example: Microorganisms that cause disease in humans 2.2.4 Synergism • Both populations benefit by working together , accomplishing something neither could do alone

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    Study Guide 2.3 Predation Populations in a community often interact through predation , where one organism ( the predator ) captures and eats another ( the prey ). Key points about predation: • Predators usually have more than one prey species • They tend to feed on the most abundant prey • When one prey population decreases, predators switch to another species This switching causes fluctuations in population sizes over time. Adaptations for Survival Natural selection favors: • Predators that are better hunters • Prey that are better at avoiding predators Common prey adaptations include: • Poisonous toxins • Chemical defenses • Warning coloration • Camouflage • Mimicry These adaptations help prey survive and reproduce. 2.4 Ecological Succession Communities do not stay the same forever. Over time, they change in an orderly and predictable way. This process is called succession .

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    Study Guide 2.4.1 Primary Succession • Occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed • Example: Land newly covered by lava from a volcanic eruption 2.4.2 Secondary Succession • Occurs in areas that previously supported life • Soil is already present • Example: Areas recovering after a forest fire or flood 2.4.3 Climax Community During succession: • Certain populations dominate for a time • These populations eventually decline • New dominant populations replace them The final, stable stage of succession is called the climax community . 3. Quiz Communities 1. Question In a predatory relationship, which participant does natural selection favor? Answer Choices • both the predator and the prey • the most efficient predator • the prey that can escape predation Correct Answer both the predator and the prey

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