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General Biology: Ecology, Classification, and Human Impacts

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  • Define ecology

    Ecology is the study of interactions between living organisms and their environment.

  • What is an ecosystem?

    An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their non-living environment.

  • Difference between biotic and abiotic factors

    Biotic factors are living components, while abiotic factors are non-living physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem.

  • What do food chains represent?

    Food chains represent the flow of energy through an ecosystem from producers to consumers and decomposers.

  • Role of producers in an ecosystem

    Producers make their own food through photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.

  • Role of consumers in an ecosystem

    Consumers obtain energy by eating other organisms; they can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

  • Role of decomposers

    Decomposers break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

  • Describe photosynthesis

    Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

  • Describe cellular respiration

    Cellular respiration is the process by which living organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water.

  • What is a food web?

    A food web is a network of many interconnecting food chains showing feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

  • Can organisms hold multiple trophic levels?

    Yes, organisms can occupy multiple trophic levels depending on their diet and interactions within the food web.

  • Classify organisms by diet

    Organisms can be classified as decomposers, herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores based on their diet.

  • Define classification and taxonomy

    Classification is grouping organisms based on shared characteristics; taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms.

  • List the levels of classification

    The levels are domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

  • What is the importance of classifying living things?

    Classification helps organize biodiversity, understand relationships, and communicate universally about organisms.

  • Scientific naming conventions

    Scientific names use binomial nomenclature with genus capitalized and species lowercase, both italicized.

  • Describe three kingdoms of living things

    Examples include Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), and Fungi (fungi).

  • Name five classes of vertebrates

    They are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

  • What is a dichotomous key?

    A dichotomous key is a tool that uses paired statements to identify organisms based on their characteristics.

  • Why is a dichotomous key universal?

    It uses objective, specific language allowing scientists worldwide to identify organisms consistently.

  • Human activities impacting ecosystems

    Examples include pollution, overfishing, and introducing species that disrupt ecosystem balance.

  • Define introduced species

    Introduced species are non-native organisms brought into ecosystems, such as foxes, rabbits, and cane toads in Australia.

  • Impact of introduced species

    They can outcompete native species, disrupt food webs, and cause ecological imbalance.

  • How can human activity disrupt food webs?

    By adding or removing species, human actions can alter feeding relationships and energy flow in ecosystems.

  • Ways communities reduce negative ecosystem impacts

    Communities can engage in conservation, reduce pollution, control invasive species, and promote sustainable land use.

  • Ecological consequences of human actions

    Human actions can have both positive and negative effects on ecosystems, influencing biodiversity and ecosystem health.