Study Guide Unit 3 - Ecology Chapter 4 1. Complete the chart by placing an “X” in the appropriate column: Factor Biotic Sun Abiotic X Plants x Water x Air x Animals x Dead tree x Rocks x 2. Describe the levels of organization by filling in the chart: Level Description Individual Population What types of factors does it involve? (Biotic/Abiotic/Both) Biotic Members of the same species that live in the same area at the same time make up a population. Biotic Community All of the populations in a particular area make up a community. Biotic Ecosystem Ecosystems include not only living things, but nonliving things as well within a particular area. Both Biosphere The biosphere includes all parts of Earth that host life, with all of its organisms and environments. Both Chapter 5 1. For each of the interactions listed below, describe each of them and indicate how the interaction affects both organisms. Interaction Description Effect (+/-/0) Predation Predation is the process by which an individual of one species, a predator, hunts, captures, kills, and consumes an individual of another species, the prey. +/- Parasitism Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism, the parasite, depends on another, the host, for nourishment or some other benefit. +/- Herbivory The interaction in which an animal feeds on a plant is called herbivory. +/- Commensalism Commensalism describes a relationship in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected. +/0 Mutualism A relationship in which two or more species benefit is called mutualism +/+ 2. What is a niche? An organism’s niche describes its use of resources and its functional role in a community. 3. What would happen if one of the organisms in a food web became extinct? If one of the species became extinct, the entire food web would be altered because it would change what everything eats. 4. What is a decomposer, and why are they important to the ecosystem? Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, can break down nonliving matter into simpler parts that can then be taken up and reused by primary producers. 5. Complete the food chain below. Fill in each box with one of the organisms in Word Bank A. Next, identify the role each type of organism in the food chain by writing a label from Word Bank B on the box in the next row. Then, use the words in Word Bank C to describe what level of consumer/producer each organism is in the boxes in the last row. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Word Bank A: ● Fox ● Grass ● Insect ● Mouse Grass Insect Mouse Fox Word Bank B: ● Carnivore ● Herbivore ● Omnivore ● Producer Producer Herbivore Omnivore Carnivore Word Bank C: ● Primary Consumer ● Primary Producer ● Secondary Consumer ● Tertiary Consumer Primary Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Chapter 7 1. Explain each of the causes of biodiversity loss. Cause of Loss Description ● Habitat Change and Loss Organisms are adapted to the places in which they live, and major change in their habitat is likely to make it less suitable. ● Invasive Species The introduction of non-native species to new environments can sometimes push native species toward extinction. ● Pollution Harmful chemicals and materials make their way into habitats can poison people and wildlife. ● Overharvesting Overharvesting occurs when humans hunt, fish, or harvest a species faster than it can replenish its population. ● Climate Change Recent changes to Earth’s climate system are beginning to have global effects on biodiversity. 2. Which of the causes above has the biggest impact on biodiversity loss? 3. How does the endangered species act protect biodiversity? Habitat change and loss is by far the greatest cause of biodiversity loss today. It forbids the government and private citizens from harming listed endangered and threatened species or their habitats. It forbids trade in products made from species that are on the list. It requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain the official list of endangered and threatened organisms, and develop recovery plans for each protected species. 4. What is an example of overharvesting? The passenger pigeon was native to North America, and was forced into extinction when humans hunted them and destroyed their habitats. 5. What is extinction? Extinction occurs when the last member of a species dies. 6. How is extinction different from extirpation? Extirpation is when a population disappears from a given area, but that population is still living. 7. Why are biodiversity hotspots important to conservation biologists? Hotspots are seen as areas critical to global biodiversity. Some areas of the world possess exceptionally high numbers of species found nowhere else. Conservation biologists have prioritized habitat preservation in these areas.
