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Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

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  • What is ecology?

    Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environments.

  • What are the different levels of ecological organization?

    Organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes/seascapes, and the biosphere.

  • Define population in ecology.

    A population is a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species living in an area.

  • What factors influence species distribution?

    Dispersal ability, behavior, biotic factors (predators, prey, competitors), and abiotic factors (temperature, light, water).

  • What is dispersal in ecology?

    Dispersal is the movement of individuals to new areas, influencing species distribution.

  • Why might a species not occur in a suitable habitat?

    Barriers to dispersal, psychological barriers, or habitat selection can prevent species from occupying livable habitats.

  • How do biotic factors limit species distribution?

    Presence or absence of other species (e.g., predators, competitors, hosts) can limit where a species lives.

  • How do abiotic factors limit species distribution?

    Physical and chemical factors like temperature extremes, water availability, salinity, sunlight, and geology affect species' ranges.

  • What is climate in ecological terms?

    Climate is the long-term prevailing weather conditions, resulting from global and local processes.

  • How does Earth's shape affect climate?

    Earth's curvature causes sunlight to be more intense at the equator and less intense at higher latitudes.

  • What causes seasonal variation in sunlight?

    The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5°, causing seasonal changes in day length, sunlight, and temperature.

  • What are biomes?

    Biomes are major habitat types characterized by both biotic and abiotic factors, especially plant types.

  • What is an ecotone?

    An ecotone is an area of transition between two biomes.

  • How do disturbances affect biomes?

    Disturbances like fire or hurricanes create community variation and patchiness within biomes.

  • What are the major abiotic drivers of biomes?

    Precipitation and temperature are the main abiotic factors shaping biomes.

  • How are aquatic biomes characterized?

    Aquatic biomes are defined by salinity (freshwater vs. marine) and depth (pelagic vs. benthic zones).

  • Why is most photosynthesis in aquatic biomes near the surface?

    Light is filtered out quickly in water, so photosynthesis mainly occurs near the surface.

  • What role does the Gulf Stream play in climate?

    The Gulf Stream warms regions like southwest UK, creating subtropical conditions despite high latitude.

  • How does Earth's tilt affect tropical and temperate zones?

    Near the equator, seasons are marked by wet and dry periods; farther from the equator, distinct seasons occur.

  • What is the significance of ocean currents in ecology?

    Ocean currents influence air circulation, precipitation, and temperature, affecting global climate and biomes.