Exam 12: Ecology

Although freshwater biomes cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface,they are important because ________.

Describe two ways (immediate and long term)in which burning a forest leads to an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Using sunflower plants to naturally remove heavy toxins from contaminated soil is an example of ________.

Aquatic biomes are defined primarily by ________.

Of the biomes listed,which is best adapted to seasonal fires?

All ecosystems need energy.What is the originating source for most of the energy that powers ecosystems on this planet?

Abiotic factors are ________.

What category describes a species that,while not presently at risk of extinction,could likely be at risk of extinction in the near future?

Ecology and environmentalism are the same scientific discipline.

The processes of chemical cycling would be studied mainly by ________.

All living things need carbon.How does carbon enter the living portion of an ecosystem?

A wolf eats a rabbit that eats grass.The wolf is a(n)________.

Imagine a hypothetical population of elephants and rabbits in which both species remain at carrying capacity over many generations.Who would have more offspring that survive to be adults and reproduce during their lifetime,a mating pair of elephants or a mating pair of rabbits? Explain your answer.

Some species require a large and diverse range.Although it may not significantly decrease the overall size of the range,how might fragmenting the range with a freeway or neighborhood lead to the extinction of the entire population,even if sufficient food is available in either region to sustain two smaller populations? Suggest a compromise that would allow the population to survive and allow for the road project or neighborhood.

The buildup of soil on bare rock by the decomposition of early colonizers is characteristic of ________ succession.

What can a human population's age pyramid tell you about current and future needs?

A community in ecology is defined as ________.

At what level is biodiversity often studied and measured?

A population in ecology is defined as ________.

Which month was the wettest? (Remember that the readings are taken at the first of each month.)