Study Guide
Ecology and Biomes Test
Ecology - The study of the interactions between living and non-living factors in an environment.
biotic -all living factors in an environment; animals, plants, bacteria
abiotic -all non-living factors in an environment; weather, sun, water, temperature
Symbiosis -a close long-term association between two or more species.
3 types of symbiotic relationships
mutualism- symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit ex: the clownfish and sea anemone. Sea anemone provides protection for the fish and the fish provides scrapes of food for anemone.
parasitism– symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed ex: heartworms in dogs, fleas and ticks on animals.
commensalism – symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
ex: shark and remora. Remora benefits from feeding off sharks scrapes, protection and transportation, the shark is not affected.
Food chain – a diagram that shows how energy flows from food molecules from one organism to the next.
Energy from sunproducerherbivorecarnivorescavenger
Food web -a complex diagram showing the many energy pathways in a real ecosystem
Carbon Cycle – The diagram to the left represents the carbon cycle. Every living thing is made up of carbon and carbon plays an important role in the cells of all living things.
Carbon enters the environment by:
- Decomposing of dead plants and animals
- Respiration of plants and animals
- Burning of fossil fuels
If too much carbon enters the atmosphere in a form that is not useable (gas), then it accumulates and causes an imbalance in the environment.Some scientists believe carbon emissions are the major cause of our ocean and land temperaturesincreasing. Scientists call this global warming.
The Nitrogen Cycle -
All living things need nitrogen. Plants get the nitrogen they need from the ground. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria change the nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form that plants can use. Nitrogen gets into the environment by:
Animal waste
Fertilizers
Decaying of plants and animals
Nitrogen enters waterways and causes algae blooms. This increase in plant growth depletes oxygen from the water and other animals and plants die because they do not get the oxygen they need to survive and grow.
The Water Cycle – evaporation, condensation and precipitation are three components of this cycle.
MAJOR CHARACTERISTCS OF BIOMES
Rainforest/ Warm, very rainy, near equator, most biologically diverse animals include: poison dart frog, orangutan, monkey
Tundra
/ Located at far Northern or Southern latitudes (or at high elevations). Permafrost, very cold, thin soil. Animals include: caribou, arctic fox, polar bear
Coniferous forest
/ Evergreen (coniferous) trees, long cold winters, short cool summers. Animals include: red fox, moose, owl, hare.
Temperate deciduous forest
/ Four seasons, deciduous trees, moderate temperatures. Animals include: eagle, deer, bear, and squirrel.
Temperate grassland
/ Grasses, few trees, four seasons. Animals include: coyotes, bobcats, and bison.
Desert
/ Very hot days, cool nights, very dry, little rainfall. Animals include: lizard, snake.
Tropical savanna
/ Dry season and rainy season, located near the equator, tall grasses. Animals include: hawks, lions, leopards, and zebra.
Marine
/ Salt water Animals include: blue whale, sea otters, fish.
Freshwater
/ Little to no salt. Ponds, streams, lakes, rivers. Animals include: bluegill, frogs
Habitat – the environment where an organism lives.
Niche – an organisms way of life and its relationships with its abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) environments.
All organisms need food, shelter, living space, and water to survive. These resources are called limiting factors. The availability of these limiting factors have an affect on the number of organisms that can live in an area at thesame time. The carrying capacity is the largest population that an environment can support.
Competition –two or more species or individuals trying to use the same limited resource.