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Name
Ecology Test
Study Guide
Know what these terms mean:
1. Ecology
Study of interactions among organisms in their environment
2. Biosphere
Parts of the planet where life exists
3. Abiotic factors
Non-living factors of the environment
4. Biotic factors
Living factors of the environment
5. Biodiversity
All of the different species on Earth
6. Conservation
Preserving areas and habitats for species necessary for survival
7. Symbiosis
~Mutualism
Two different organisms depending on each other for survival
Both organisms benefit
~Commensalism
One benefits, one is not affected
~Parasitism
One benefits, one is harmed
11. Autotrophs
Make their own food
12. Heterotrophs
Consume their food
~Carnivores
Eat meat
~Herbivores
Eat plants
~Omnivores
Eat plants and animals
~Detritivores
Decomposers, break down organic matter
13. Biomass
Total amount of living tissue in a trophic level
14. Limiting Factor
15. Climate
Something that limits the population from growing
Changes in weather in an ecosystem
16. Carrying Capacity
Amount that an area can sustain
Organize these words from simplest to most complex and write a short definition:
population
1. Species
ecosystem
species
biome
community
Group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
2. Population
Group of organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same area
3. Community
Different populations that live in the same area
4. Ecosystem
Community of organisms including their non-living factors
5. Biome
Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities
Name three threats to biodiversity and explain their effect.
1. Habitat alteration
Cutting down forests to build shopping malls removes the habitats
of animals
2. Poaching
Over hunting can lead to extinction of species
3. Pollution
Biomagnification. Pollution goes through the food chain affecting multiple
species
Decide whether each example is Mutualism (M), Commensalism (C), or
Parasitism (P). Circle the correct letter.
M
C
P
Pseudoscorpions hide under the wings of beetles for protection and
transportation. They don’t sting, and don’t bother the beetles in any way.
M
C
P
A virus enters a person’s body and infects its cells, causing the person to
become ill.
M
C
P
The Gila woodpecker lives on the Saguaro cactus and eats the insects it
finds there. It also pollinates the cactus when it flies to another.
List the 8 characteristics of life:
Made up of cells.
Maintain internal balance
Genetic code
Reproduce
Respond to environment
Obtain and use Energy
Evolve
Grow and Develop
Use this food web to identify the:
Producers
Garden
Primary Consumers Snail, Centipede, Aphid
Secondary Consumers
Spider, Bird
Herbivores
Snail, Centipede, Aphid
Carnivores
Spider, Bird
Omnivores
Draw your own food web using the following organisms. You may just use animal
names and arrows (you don’t have to draw pictures).
caterpillar
squirrel
snake
deer
corn
microorganisms (decomposers)
crow
cougar
mouse
What is carrying capacity?
Amount that an area can hold successfully
1. When did this population increase?
Day 13
2.
What could have caused the increase?
Increase in food
3. When did the population reach carrying
capacity?
Day 23