ECOLOGY REVIEW SHEET

I. Matching
Match the following terms with the correct statement. Each statement may be used only once.

Heterotroph 1. F A. One organism benefits without harming the other

Secondary Succession 2. D B. An organism that eats only plants
Ecology 3. C C. Study of organisms and their environment
Prey 4. N D. Gradual replacement of one community by another
Carnivore 5. J E. A relationship in which both organisms benefit
Autotroph 6. H F. Organisms that cannot make their own food
Parasitism 7. G G. A relationship in which one organism benefits but harms the other
Commensalism 8. A H. Organisms that can make their own food
Herbivore 9. B I. An organism that hunts
Mutualism 10. E J. Organisms that eats only meat
Decomposer 11. K K. Organism that breaks down dead material
Omnivore 12. M L. Any biotic factor that restricts distribution of organisms
Predator 13. I M. Organism that eats both plant and animals
Limiting Factor 14. L N. Organism that are hunted

II. FILL IN THE BLANK

In the space to the left, write the word or phrase in parentheses that correctly completes the statement

15. The biosphere includes air and water; animals and plants; and (mountains and oceans, moon
and stars).

16. Wind, humidity, and (mosses, rocks) would be considered abiotic factors in a terrestrial
ecosystem.

17. The size and extent of a population does not directly depend on the availability of (food,
decomposers).

18. To explain and show how the amount of living material and tissues at each trophic level of a
food chain changes, you could use a pyramid of (numbers, biomass).

19. In the nitrogen cycle, (bacteria and lightning, decomposers) convert atmospheric nitrogen into
nitrogen compounds usable by plants.

20. Energy that passes through a food chain is lost to the environment as (heat, matter).

21. Water, carbon, and nitrogen are released back into the atmosphere during (symbiosis,
decomposition).

22. Both the algae and the fungus are benefited from their relationship in a lichen. This is one of
(mutualism, commensalism).

23. In a pond ecosystem, ducks, mosquitoes, pond plants, and frogs are (abiotic, biotic) factors.

In the space to the left, write the word or phrase that includes the rest.

24. trophic level, food web, food chain

25. parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, symbiosis

26. organism, ecosystem, population, community

27. ecosystems, biotic factors, biosphere, abiotic factors

28. omnivores, consumers, carnivores, herbivores

29. evaporation, precipitation, water cycle, respiration

30. little rainfall, plants with waxy coats, desert, tundra

31. low temp., little precipitation, tundra, permafrost

Use the following diagram to answer questions 30-35.

 Caterpillar Bird

Grass Mouse Snake Owl

Grasshopper Frog

32. What is the producer in the food web above? grass

33. Energy flows from the mouse to the snake and owl

34. The primary consumers are caterpillar, mouse, grasshopper.

35. The secondary consumers are bird, snake, frog, and owl.

36. The owl is a secondary consumer if it eats the mouse, but a tertiary (third order) consumer if it eats the snake, bird, or frog.

37. As matter and energy move from grasses to owl, the amount of available energy always (increases, decreases) but the
population size may increase or decrease.

For questions 36-39, Use the legend below

E= Exponential Growth L= Logistic Growth

L 38. This type of growth tends to level off upon the carrying capacity.

L 39. This type of growth has a period of steady growth.

L 40. This type of growth is more realistic and true

E 41. This type of growth keeps growing forever if unchecked

III. SHORT ANSWER

42. List the 6 levels of biological organization from general to specific.

ORGANISM, POPULATION, COMMUNITY, ECOSYSTEM, BIOME, BIOSPHERE

43. Explain the difference between a niche and habitat.

Niche: THE ROLE AN ORGANISM PLAYS IN A FOOD CHAIN

Habitat: THE PLACE WHERE AN ORGANISM LIVES

44. List 3 types of symbiotic relationships and give examples of each.

1. MUTUALISM
example: PLANTS GIVE OFF O2 FOR HUMANS WHO GIVE OFF C02 FOR PLANTS
2. COMMENSALISM
example: BARNACLES ON WHALES
3. PARASITISM
example: FLEAS ON A DOG

45. Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web.

Food Chain: AN EXCHANGE OF ENERGY FROM ONE ORGANISM TO ANOTHER

Food Web: ALL FOOD CHAINS IN A PARTICULAR BIOME; COMPLEX DEPICTION OF

PREDATOR/PREY RELATIONSHIPS

46. Explain how Eubacteria and Fungi are important in cycling of nutrients in the environment. BREAKS DOWN
NUTRIENTS INTO A FORM THAT CAN BE REUSED IN THE ATMOSPHERE OR BY OTHER ORGANISMS

47. What is the difference between a limiting factor and carrying capacity? LIMITING FACTOR- REGULATES THE SIZE
OF A POPULATION EX: FOOD SUPPLY, TEMP., DISASTERS
CARRYING CAPACITY- POP. SIZE THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY THE AMOUNT OF FOOD, SPACE, WATER

48. Compare and contrast primary and secondary succession.

 Primary: CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN AN AREA WHERE NO LIFE PREVIOUSLY EXISTED EX:
VOLACNO FORMING ISLAND

Secondary: CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE IN AN ECOSYSTEM WHEN COMMUNITIES ARE

DISRUPTED BY HUMANS OR NATURAL DISATERS EX: ONCE FOREST NOW THE WOODLANDS, TX

49. Compare and contrast density- dependent and density independent factors.
Density- dependent: BIOLOGICAL EVENT THAT OCCURS TO ALTER SIZE OF A POPULATION EX:
DISEASES SPREAD RAPIDLY

Density- independent: NATURAL EVENT THAT ALTERS SIZE OF POPULATION EX: HURRICANE, FIRE

50. What is the main cause of ozone depletion?

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFC’S)

51. What is the main cause of the greenhouse effect?

AUTOMOBILE & FACTORY EMISSIONS OF CO & CO2

52. Carbonic acid, sulfur released from factories, and nitric acid released from cars combine with water to produce ACID
RAIN

53. Human activity, variations in climate, and the melting of polar ice caps may possibility contribute to GLOBAL WARMING.

Use the following ecosystem to answer questions 49- 52.

ECOSYSTEM #1
X OOOO XXXX XXOOXXOXX OOOOOOOOXXX XXXXXXO
OOXXOOO XXX OOOOOOO XXXXXOXOXOXOXXXOXXOOOOX
XOO X OXXX O XXXOO XXOXO OO XO XOXOXO
X X X X X X X X XOO O O O X XO X X X X O O
OO OO OO OO OO OO XO XO X
XXXX OO OO
XXXXXXXOOOOOOO OOOOOO XX XX
IT TAKES 10 CIRCLES TO COVER THE ENTIRE SYSTEM

54. How many different populations are being studied? 2

55. How many (X) individuals are in sample #1 in ecosystem #1? 8

56. What is the average number of (O) individuals for all of the samples in ecosystem #1? 6

57. What is the total estimated amount of (O) individuals for ecosystem #1 using the method that we used? 60