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Ecology Quiz study guide
1.Write the meaning/definition for each term:
ecology, habitat, abiotic, biotic, population,
community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere,
carrying capacity, limiting factor,
immigration, emigration, birth rate, death
rate, niche, adaptation
Ecology- the study of how living things interact
with each other and their environment.
Habitat- an environment that provides the
things an organism needs to live grow and
reproduce
Abiotic- nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Biotic- living parts of an ecosystem
Population- all members of one species that
interact in an area
Community- all different populations that live
together in an area
Ecosystem- community of organisms that live
in an area and their non-living surroundings
Biome- a group of ecosystems with similar
climates and organisms
Biosphere- all biomes/area of life on Earth
Carrying capacity- the maximum amount of
organisms an ecosystem can hold
Limiting factor- a resource that limits the size
of a population
Immigration- organisms moving into a
population (increases population size)
Emigration- organisms leaving a population
(decreases population size)
Birth rate- the number of individuals born in an
amount of time
Death rate- the number of individuals dying in
an amount of time.
Niche- the role or job of an organism in the
ecosystem. (a crab lives on the bottom and eats
dead things- that is its niche)
Adaptation- a special characteristic that
increases chances for survival
2.How do scientists organize the different
levels of an ecosystem? What is the order
from smallest scale to largest?
Organism, population, community, ecosystem,
biome, biosphere
3.Give an example of a biotic factor and the
abiotic parts that create an environment for
its survival.
A tree (biotic) needs sun, water and air to grow
4.If you count 20 bears in a 200 meter2
random sample. Then you calculate that the
forest is 20 times that size (4000m2). What
is your population estimate? Use
20 bears (20 times) = 400 bears in the whole
forest
5.What is the difference between direct and
indirect sampling?
Direct is counting all by seeing the organism
Indirect involves counting signs of organisms
and estimating population size
6.Which sampling method will you use when
working with a large population, in a
concentrated area, whose members can not
be observed directly or indirectly?
Tag and recapture
7.Explain the technique of simple random
sampling. When is it useful?
A random sample is chosen from a larger area.
From the samples, an estimate is made to apply
to the whole population. It is useful when there
is a large population that is spread over a large
area
8.Explain the technique of mark and
recapture. When is it useful?
Organisms from a population are captured and
tagged- and then released to mix with the
population.
The ecologist returns and captures again. The
number of recaptured is compared to the total
number captured and an equation is used to
calculate an estimate.
Use this when working with a large population,
in a concentrated area, whose members can not
be observed directly or indirectly
9.What is the meaning of population density?
The number of organisms in a given area
10. What is the formula for population
density?
Number of organisms/unit area
11. Calculate the population density for the
following example. Show your work in the 4
steps used in your notes. Include units with
all numbers for full credit.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Number of organisms/unit area
Number = 16 lions
Area = 70 km2
16 lions / 70 km2 = 0.23 lions/km2
L L
L
L LLL
L L
7 km
LLL LL L L
10 km
12. Give 3 examples of limiting factors.
Water, food, space
13. Describe what happens to a population
when there is a high birth rate?
The population grows
14. Write the situation described in #3 as a
population statement formula
Birth rate > death rate= growing population
15. Describe what happens to a population
when there is a high death rate?
The population declines
16. Write the situation described in #5 as a
population statement formula
Death rate> birth rate= declining population
17.
Make a graph showing population change for a typical
population of rabbits over 10 year period. Imagine that the
population starts at 25 in year 1 and reaches the highest
amount of 200 in years 6 and 9. Identify/label areas of
population increase, decrease, and carrying capacity on
the graph.
Increasing
population
Carrying capacity
Decreasing population
18. What are 3 main types of interactions
between living things in an ecosystem?
Competition, symbiosis, predation
19. Give 2 specific examples of how
organisms have adapted to reduce
competition.
Fish in a pond can have different diets
Birds can have special beaks that allow them to
eat different parts of the same fruit
20. What does the term “limited resource”
mean? Give 2 examples.
A resource in the ecosystem that reduces
population size
Examples: water, space
21. What is the difference between habitat
and a niche?
A habitat is an environment that provides the
things needed for an organism to live, grow and
reproduce a niche is the role in the environment
22. Can two different species occupy the
same habitat? Explain.
Yes they can as long as they do not occupy the
same niche.
23. Can 2 organisms occupy the same niche?
No. They will compete with each other until one
dies out