Ecology Unit Standards and Vocabulary
2a – Growth, reproduction, & maintenance of the organization of living systems require free energy & matter.
2a1 – All living systems require constant input of free energy.
L.O. 2.2 Reproduction and rearing of offspring require free energy beyond that used for maintenance and
growth. Different organisms use various reproductive strategies in response to energy availability
*Describe and give an example of the each of the following reproductive strategies (aka life histories).
• semelparity/big bang reproduction
• iteroparity
L.O. 2.3 Changes in free energy availability can result in changes in population size and disruptions of an
ecosystem
*Explain how the availability in sunlight (free energy) can affect the number and size of trophic levels.
Incorporate the term primary productivity into your answer.
*Define and explain the relationship between gross and net primary production
*Define the equation NPP = GPP - R
*Define the term secondary production and made sure to use the term biomass.
*Use the diagram to the right to help explain production efficiency.
*Draw a pyramid of energy or biomass and then explain the ten percent rule.
2.A.3 – Organisms must exchange matter with the environment to grow, reproduce and maintain organization.
L.O. 2.9 Molecules and atoms from the environment are necessary to build new molecules.
*Draw a diagram of each of the following nutrient cycles. For each cycle explain how the matter is being
cycled, key organisms in the process and any major reactions that drive the cycle.
• Carbon
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
*How does deforestation or removal of the vegetation affect nutrient cycling?
2D Growth & dynamic homeostasis of a biological system are influenced by changes in the environment
2.D.1 – All biological systems from cells and organisms to populations, communities, and ecosystems are affected by
complex biotic and abiotic interactions involving exchange of matter and free energy
L.O. 2.22, 2.23, 2.24 Organism activities are affected by interactions with biotic and abiotic factors
*Explain how Biotic factors, such as predators affect the distribution of a prey population. Give a specific
example to support your response.
*Explain how an abiotic factor such as water, wind or temperature may affect the distribution of a population.
*Explain how nutrient availability such as nitrogen may affect a population.
2.D.3 – Biological systems are affected by disruptions to their dynamic homeostasis
L.O. 2.28 Disruptions to ecosystems impact the dynamic homeostasis or balance of the ecosystem
*Explain how each of the following could be a disruption to dynamic homeostasis of an ecosystem.
• Invasive species, Fire, Salination
2E Many biological processes involved in growth, reproduction, and dynamic homeostasis include temporal regulation
and coordination
L.O. 2.38 and 2.39 and 2.40 Cooperative behavior of populations contributes to survival of the populations.
*Describe the mutualistic relationship found within a lichen.
*Explain & give an example of how resource partitioning is a form of cooperative behavior among populations.
3E1 – Individuals can act on information and communicate it to others. Organisms exchange information with each
other in response to internal changes and external cues, which can change behavior. L.O. 3.40 and 3.41 and 3.42
*Give examples of both plant and animal defenses against a predator or prey.
*Define cryptic coloration and explain how it can be used as a defense.
*Define aposematic coloration and explain how it can be used as a defense.
*Explain the difference between Batesian mimicry and Mullerian mimicry.
4A Interactions within biological systems lead to complex properties, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
4.A.5 – Communities are composed of populations of organisms that interact in complex ways.
*Explain how the structure of a community is measured in terms of species richness and relative abundance.
L.O.4.11, 4.12, 4.13 Mathematical or computer models are used to illustrate and investigate population interactions
within and environmental impacts on a community.
– Examples – predator/prey relationships spreadsheet model, symbiotic relationship, graphical
representation of data, introduction of species, global climate change models
– Mathematical models and graphical representations are used to illustrate population growth patterns
and interactions
*Describe the conditions in which a population will experience exponential growth. Draw a picture of the curve.
*Describe the conditions in which a population will experience logistic growth. Draw a picture of the curve.
*Define carrying capacity (K).
*Explain the correlation between population density and the rate of increase during logistic growth.
*Explain the difference between populations whose life history is K-selected versus populations that are r-selected.
(Include when they are most likely to reproduce)
*Explain what demographic data such as age structure can tell you about a population.
4.A.6 Interactions among living systems & their environment result in the movement of matter and energy. LO 4.15
*Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web.
*Explain how energy flows through the various trophic levels of a food chain.
*Explain why food webs and food chains are dependent on primary productivity.
L.O. 4.14, 4.15, 4.16 Many adaptations of organisms are related to obtaining & using energy & matter in a particular
environment.
*Define the term density-dependent limiting factor. Give examples and explain how they can be observed in a logistic
growth model.
*Define the term density-independent limiting factor. Give examples.
*Give an example of how resource limitation can affect a population.
*Give an example of how waste accumulation can affect the growth of a population
*Define the term interspecific competition
*Explain the competitive exclusion principle.
*Define the term ecological niche.
*Explain how the competitive exclusion principle can be restated with regards to two population's niche. Use the classic
example between two species of barnacles to explain the process. Make sure to include the term fundamental niche
and realized niche in your explanation.
*Describe the process that leads to resource partitioning. Include an example.
4B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems.
4.B.3 – Interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and abundance.
4.C.4 – The diversity of species within an ecosystem may influence the stability of the ecosystem
L.O. 4.19 Population of organisms has properties that are different from those of the individuals that make up the
population. The cooperation and competition between individuals contributes to these different properties.
L.O. 4.27 The diversity of species within an ecosystem may influence the stability of the ecosystem
*Explain & give example of how dominant species exert strong controls on community structure.
*Explain & give example of how keystone species exert an important regulating effect on other species in a
community.
4.B.4 – L.O. 4.20, 4.21 Distribution of local and global ecosystems changes over time
*Explain how each of the following human issues has an impact on local and global ecosystems.
• logging
• urbanization
• monocropping
• development of dams and roads
*Explain how an Introduced species or invasive species exploits a new niche and the impact experienced by native
species. Give an example.
*Describe the cause and effect on local or global ecosystems for each of the following :
• eutrophication
• acid rain
• biological magnification
• greenhouse Effect
• global Warming
• ozone depletion