Answers for Ecology Unit Review

1. Define the following: niche, habitat.

A niche is the role played by an organism in the natural world.
A habitat is an area where the biotic and abiotic factors are able to support the survival and
reproduction of a particular species.

2. Distinguish between ecosystem, biome and biosphere

Ecosystem = a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as
weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.
Biome = a collection of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the
environment they exist in.
Biosphere = a global ecosystem composed of all biotic (living organisms) and the abiotic
(non-living) factors

3. Explain why pesticides are used and how their use can lead to bioamplification.
When a toxin, such as pesticides, is released into the environment, they would accumulate
in the tissues of tolerant organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.

4. Why is a decline in the number of frogs important?

The death of frogs would send a ripple through the ecosystem. The number of animals that
eat the frogs will die off, then the animals that eat them will go hungry, and
their populations will be devastated as well. This would just keep going up the food chain.

5. Explain what happens to the amount of energy when food is transferred to different trophic levels?

Energy is transferred along food chains, however, the amount of available energy decreases
from one trophic level to the next. The reason for this is that only around 10 per cent of
the energy is passed on to the next trophic level. Most of the energy is lost to growth and
reproduction of the organisms.

6. Why is the greatest number of species found in an ecotone?

The resources increases at ecotones because the limits of the ranges of two region's species
expand into the transition. Thus, species from two or more biomes can coexist and occupy
the available resources.

7. Write the formula for photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Create a comparison chart: reactants,
products, organisms, purpose

Photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy  C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy

8. Explain the term competitive exclusion. How can more than one organism at the same trophic level co-
exist in an ecosystem?
Two species can't coexist if they occupy exactly the same niche (competing for identical
resources). There must be plenty of resources in order to support more than one organism at
the same trophic level.

9. Compare and contrast native species, exotic species and invasive species. Give examples of each.
Explain the impact that an invasive species could have on the ecosystem.

Native species Organisms that occur naturally in an area, i.e. ferns, trilliums
Exotic species Organisms that have been introduced into an area outside their
normal distribution, i.e. garlic mustard
Invasive species Species that are not native to an ecosystem and cause harm,
i.e. zebra mussels, Asian carps

10. Explain why it would be wrong to underestimate the mighty Beaver.

Beaver activity can increase plant diversity by as much as 33%. As trees are removed and land
is flooded, other plant species emerge in its place. They are nature's ecosystem engineers,
felling trees and building dams, and changing waterways for their own benefit. Their dams help
to control the quantity and quality of water downstream, which both humans and animals use.

Diagram
11. Draw a food web using organisms of your choice from the following list of organisms belonging to a
pond ecosystem. Draw one pyramid of energy and one pyramid of numbers from this food web.
Pyramid of numbers
12. Use as many terms as possible to describe the organisms in your food web (producer, heterotroph,
trophic l levels, etc)
See the pyramid above.

13. Sketch a graph that illustrates the relationship between rabbit and fox populations over time (predator-
prey relationship. Sketch a graph of rabbit population alone over time. Indicate the carrying capacity.
What factors would affect the carrying capacity of the rabbit population? Classify these factors as density-
dependent and density independent.

In nature, the population of a given area may reach carrying capacity when the maximum
population size is reached for a given area with limited resources.

Communication Questions:
14. Discuss one way in which humans are impacting the nitrogen cycle – give as much detail as possible.
Use a flow chart or diagram if appropriate
Many human activities have a significant impact on the nitrogen cycle. Burning fossil fuels,
application of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and other activities can dramatically increase the
amount of biologically available nitrogen in an ecosystem.

15. How is human activity affecting the carbon cycle?

Human activities have a tremendous impact on the carbon cycle. Burning fossil fuels, changing
land use, and using limestone to make concrete all transfer significant quantities of carbon into
the atmosphere.

16. Discuss ways that humans are threatening biodiversity. Why is it difficult to prevent this? What can
be done to improve the situation?
Answers may vary.

17. Discuss Sustainability. Give examples of how humans are not being sustainable. Give examples of
how humans are attempting to create sustainability.
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and
economic resources.