Download Study Guide for Ecology Test 1

Study Guide for Ecology Test 1
(Chapter 13 Sections 1-4 & 6, Chapter14 Sections 3 & 4
and Chapter 16 Section 3)
Be able to define biotic and abiotic, and be able to give examples of each.
Be able to define the terms organism, population, community, ecosystem and
biosphere, and be able to distinguish between these terms.
Be able to define biodiversity and give examples of regions that have higher levels of
biodiversity.
Be able to define population density, know the formula and cite examples of units. Be
able to calculate population density.
Be able to explain that under ideal conditions, the reproductive capacity of species allow
for exponential growth. Know the shape of a graph for exponential growth. Be able to
explain that the growth pattern of many populations form a logistic curve (S shaped) in
which there is initially exponential growth which if followed by a leveling off of
population growth due to limited availability of resources or other factors. Be able to
define carrying capacity.
Be able to define autotroph (producer) and heterotroph (consumer). Be able to explain
that autotrophs perform either photosynthesis or chemosynthesis and be able to define
each of these two processes.
Be able to define the following types of heterotrophs: herbivores, carnivores (predators
and scavengers), omnivores, and decomposers. Be able to explain the decomposers are
important for an ecosystem because they recycle nutrients back into the environment.
Be able to define the term trophic level and identify the producer, primary consumer,
secondary consumer and tertiary consumer in a food chain.
Be able to define the term energy pyramid, and explain why food chains form energy
pyramids. Be able to explain how an energy pyramid is still consistent with the Law of
Conservation of Energy.
Be able to define generalist species and specialist species and give examples of each. Be
able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy.
Be able to define intraspecific competition and interspecific competition.
Be able to explain what a boom and bust population pattern is (graph on page 417) and
why this pattern might exist between a predator and it prey.
Be able to explain what biomagnafication is and why it occurs in higher trophic levels
(higher on the food chain). Be sure that you understand that top consumers often have
higher concentrations of toxins than organisms lower down in the food chain not just a
larger amount if they are bigger organisms. (Sometimes the term bioaccumulation is
used when describing biomagnification. Bioaccumulation means that a toxin remains in
body tissue instead of being secreted. To have biomagnafication you must have
bioaccumulation so this term is often-incorrectly- used to mean the same thing.)
Be able to explain the main causes (from human activity) of acid rain (lower pH) and
some of the effects on the environment.
Be able to explain the main causes of ocean acidification and some of the effects on the
ecosystem. (Note that the main causes are different than those for acid rain.)