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What is Ecology?
The study of organisms and their interactions with the abiotic and biotic factors of their environments.
List the levels of organization studied in Ecology from largest (most complex) to smallest (least complex)
Biosphere, Biome, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Organism
How is an ecosystem different from a community?
An ecosystem includes abiotic components of the environment, whereas communities include only living factors.
What is biodiversity?
The different lifeforms in a habitat or ecosystem
Why is biodiversity important?
Living organisms have different purposes and interdependent relationships exist among living and nonliving things.
Which three factors affect biodiversity?
climate, area, and niche
What is an invasive species?
A non-native organism introduced into a new habitat/ecosystem.
How do invasive species affect the biodiversity in an ecosystem?
Invasive species could either positively, or negative impact ecosystem biodiversity, but typically decrease the amount of biodiversity in an area.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Gases in the atmosphere hold in the sun's energy to heat the Earth, making it warm enough to be habitable.
Which greenhouse gas is released when fossil fuels are burned, and has been negatively contributing to the greenhouse effect?
carbon dioxide
What are some of the major causes of climate change?
Burning fossil fuels, Deforestation, Water Pollution
What is the area around Earth called in which life can exist?
Biosphere
List three positive ways humans impact the environment.
Answers Vary
What is carrying capacity?
Average population size for a species in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Which two types of factors affect carrying capacity?
density dependent factors and density independent
List two density dependent factors that can affect carrying capacity for an ecosystem.
disease, competition, predation, etc.
