Ecology Study Guide: Period 3
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5
Chapter 2 Section 1: Organisms and their Environment
Summary:
Ecology is the study of interactions of organisms between others and their environment; this was led to by natural history. Ecologists study biological levels of organism ranging from individuals to the entire ecosystems; these organisms are affected by abiotic and biotic factors in their environment/habitat.
Ecologists study the relationships among species and organisms as well as identify adaptations in their niche’s.
A.
Interactions Within Communities a.
Why would a change in one population cause another population (from the same community) to result in changes as well?
B.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors from Ecosystems a.
Why do Ecologists study interactions between separate populations and physical surroundings?
C.
Organisms in Ecosystems a.
What conditions or advantages does a habitat provide?
D.
Niche a.
How do the terms “niche” and “habitat” go hand in hand?
E.
Survival Relationships a.
T or F? All organisms living in the same environment are in a continuous battle for survival.
Explain.
F.
Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism a.
Out of the three symbiotic relationships, Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism, which one do you think would have the greatest impact on an ecosystem in its entirety? Justify your answer.
Chapter 2, Section 2: ???
Chapter 3, Section 1: Communities
Summary: Communities, populations, and individuals interact together. Biotic and abiotic factors are included. Succession is the changes that occur by colonization, pioneer species, and a severe disruption in the community that will eventually end in a climax community.
Questions:
1.
Can factors that limit one population, limit another? Explain.
2.
How does tolerance affect the biosphere?
3.
How long can a climax community last?
4.
What happens when a natural disaster such as a forest fire disrupts a community?
Section 3.2: Biomes
A biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community. There are six main biomes, Tundra, Taiga, Desert, Grassland, Temperate Forest, and Rain Forest
Other Aquatic biomes
Compare and contrast swamps and marshes.
Latitude and Climate
What is latitude, and how does it affect climate?

Life in the temperate forest, Life in the rain forests
Compare and contrast life in the temperate forest from life in the rain forests.
Life on the Tundra:
Why is their a limit on the types of organisms in the tundra?
Life on the Taiga:
How can you tell when you leave the tundra and enter the taiga?
Life in the Desert:
Are their carnivores or herbivores in the biome?
Life in the grassland:
What’s a difference about the biome Grassland?
Chapter 4, Section 1: Population Dynamics
Summary: In all populations, size varies, yet stable environments provide an "S" curve of growth as it approaches carrying capacity. Density is a factor of populations when density dependant factors come into play.
Population growth
If a population is exhibiting a J curve, what is happening to its size?
Population potential
-
Why can’t a population exhibit a J curve for long periods of time?
Rapid life history patterns
What are the best examples of rapid life history pattern populations?
Slow Life History Patterns
Q: What are the varying characteristics of slow life-history organisms?
Density Factors and Population Growth
Q: Compare and contrast density-dependant factors and density-independent factors.
Predation Affects Population Size
Q: What would happen if a prey population from a predator-prey relationship is increased and why? Predator increased?
Competition within a Population
Q: What would happen if organisms within a population compete for resources?
The Effects of Crowding and Stress
Q: What would happen if populations of certain organisms become crowded?
Chapter 4: Section 2: Human Population
Summary: The world consists of different people in different age groups. The birthrate and death rate significantly affects the increase and decrease of a population. The time and speed of growth are also factors that affect a population.
Human Population Growth
Why is the human population growth different than the growth rate of other organisms?
Calculating Growth Rate
What does the birthrate and death rate have to be for the population to be stable?
The Effect of a Positive Growth Rate
What would be the outcome of a positive growth rate on a population?
Doubling Time
What is doubling time and what factors does this time depend on?
Age Structure
What is age structure and what can its graph tell you?
Ecology and Growth
What does a population need for it to have a healthy, stable growth?

Chapter 5, Section 1: ???
Section 5.2: Conservation Bio
Section Summary: The ways to conserve biodiversity. Conservation biology is the study and implementation of methods to protect biodiversity.
Legal Protections of species:
Q: What is the law that prohibits the destruction of habitats for endangered species and how does it do that?
Preserving Habitats:
Q: In what ways have the government tried to preserve habitats?
Habitat Corridors:
Q: What are habitat corridors and how do they help preserve biodiversity?
Working with people
Q: Human activity is monitored in protected areas by whom, and what is their main responsibility?
Reintroduction and species preservation programs
Q: Explain the Reintroduction program, and how it benefits endangered animals?
Captivity
Q: How does captivity keep an animal from going extinct?
Protecting Plant species
Q: Why is it harder to reintroduce animals then plants?