Ecology Unit Study Guide
(Stratton 2009 Fall)
Chapters 2, 3, 4 & 5
Vocabulary:
abiotic factor
abyssal zone
acid precipitation
aphotic
autotrophs
benthos
biome
biosphere
biotic factor
biotic potential
birthrate
carbon footprint
carnivore
carnivore
carrying capacity
climax community
commensalism
community
competition
death rate
decomposers
density-dependent
density-independent
desert
dominant species
ecological succession
ecology
ecosystem
edge effect
endangered species
estivation
exotic species
exponential growth
extinction
feeding level
first-order consumer
food chain
food web
geothermal energy
grassland
habitat
habitat degradation
habitat fragmentation
herbivore
heterotrophs
hibernation
humus
invasive species
limiting factor
littoral zone
medium
mutualism
nekton
neritic zone
niche
nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fixation
nodule
ocean
omnivore
omnivore
ozone layer
parasitism
photic
plankton
population
population density
population growth rate
curve
population size
predation
predator
prey
primary succession
pyramid of biomass
pyramid of energy
pyramid of numbers
S-shaped curve
scavenger
second-order consumer
secondary succession
symbiosis
taiga
temperature deciduous
third-order consumer
forest
threatened species
topsoil
trophic level
tundra
vertical stratification
zero population growth
tropical rain forest
To Study:
1.
Understand the differences between linear and exponential growth.
2.
Distinguish the following curves and/or graphs:
1. population growth curves
2. S-shaped curves
3. death rates
4. birthrates
5. predator/prey
3.
Explain the different limiting factors on a population.
4.
Understand predator/prey relationships.
5.
Understand the relationship of density on a population.
6.
Understand how organisms interact within an ecosystem (food chains, food
webs, cycles of matter).
7.
Understand how energy moves through an ecosystem.
8.
Understand why the pyramid factor exists in energy & biomass.
9.
Understand how materials in an ecosystem are recycled.
A. carbon
B. hydrogen
C. oxygen
D. nitrogen
10. Understand the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle.
11. Understand the relationships among commensalism, mutualism, &
parasitism.
12. Understand the importance of water in an ecosystem.
13. Understand the development of a community's ecological succession.
14. Know the two types of ecological succession
15. Know the stages of ecological succession.
16. Know the first organisms to colonize bare rock.
17. Know the basic biomes of the world.
18. Understand the effects of rainfall on a biome.
19. Know the three zones of the ocean; littoral, neritic, and abyssal.
20. Know the climax communities found in Western Oregon.
21. Know human population dynamics.