Ecology Chapter 3 Review
Name:
1. What is primary succession? Give an example. Make sure to include the stages of
succession.
The change in an ecosystem that happens when one community replaces another
as a result of changing abiotic and biotic factors is ecological succession.
The establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have
any topsoil is primary succession.
*** Pioneer species: the first species to inhabit an area (usually lichens,
which help to break down rock)
2. What is secondary succession? Give an example. Make sure to include the stages
of succession.
The orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of
organisms has been removed but the soil has remained intact is secondary
succession.
Fire
Ecology Chapter 3 Review
Name:
3. What is the zone of tolerance? How would you diagram it? Diagram it below.
Where would you find the greatest diversity in the range of tolerance?
An upper limit and lower limit that define the conditions in which an organism can
survive.
The ability of any organism to survive when subjected to abiotic factors or biotic factors
is called tolerance.
4. What is a limiting factor?
Any abiotic factor or biotic factor that restricts the numbers, reproduction, or
distribution of organisms is called a limiting factor.
Includes sunlight, climate, temperature, water, nutrients, fire, soil chemistry, and
space, and other living things
*** BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY LIMITING FACTORS AND ZONES OF
TOLERANCE GIVEN EXAMPLES
5. Jen has a 15-gallon tank for her guppies. The average guppy population in her
aquarium over a four-month period is 23 guppies. She increased the tank size to a
45-gallon tank. After a four-month period, the average population is 53 guppies.
What is was the limiting factor for Jen’s fish population?
Tank Size
6. What is the difference between weather and climate? What features are
responsible for the variation of climate in different parts of the world?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time.
The average weather conditions in an area, including temperature and
precipitation, describe the area’s climate.
The angle of the incoming sunlight is the single feature that is primarily
responsible for the variation of climate in different parts of the world
Ecology Chapter 3 Review
Name:
7. What is latitude?
The distance of any point on the surface of Earth north or south from the equator
is latitude.
8. What is the littoral zone?
In the lakes and ponds, the area closest to the shore is the littoral zone. *** THIS AREA
HAS THE MOST DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF SPECIES PRESENT.
9. What is the limnetic zone? What is it dominated by?
The limnetic zone is the open water area that is well lit and is dominated by plankton.
10. What is the profundal zone?
The profundal zone is the deepest areas of a large lake.
It is much colder and lower in oxygen than the other two zones.
11. What are the wetlands?
Areas of land such as marshes, swamps, and bogs that are saturated with water
and that support aquatic plants are called wetlands.
12. What is the intertidal zone?
The intertidal zone is a narrow band where the ocean meets land
13. What are the four zones in the open ocean ecosystem?
Photic zone – is shallow enough that sunlight is able to penetrate.
Aphotic zone – area where sunlight is unable to penetrate.
Benthic zone – an area along the ocean floor that consists of sand, silt, and dead
organisms.
Abyssal Zone - The deepest region of the ocean is called the abyssal zone.
This should be filled out using guided notes:
Ecology Chapter 3 Review
TUNDRA
Name:
TAIGA
(Boreal Forest)
TEMPERATE
DECIDUOUS
FOREST
TEMPERATE
GRASSLAND
TROPICAL
SAVANNA
TROPICAL RAIN
FOREST
Average Temp.
Annual
Precipitation
Soil
Description
Producers and
Consumers
(adaptions)
TEMPERATE
WOODLAND AND
SHRUBLAND
(Chaparral)
Average
Temperature
Annual
Precipitation
Soil
Description
Producers and
Consumers
(adaptations)
DESERT