Ecology

The process of decomposition commonly releases into the environment:

nitrogen and carbon

A balanced ecosystem cannot change.

false

Cycles in an environment, like the cycles of the seasons, have been designed and controlled by

God

"For by him were all things created" refers to the person of

Jesus Christ

A habitat is best described as:

a place where organisms live

What part of the ecosystem could not survive without the other components?

carnivores

A group of living things of one or more different kinds. Plants and animals that live in the same habitat because they have similar needs for water, light, heat, soil, and other environmental factors.

community

An ecosystem may consist of more than one _______ in a defined locale.

community

A thought or idea.

concept

The complex process of photosynthesis is responsible for:

converting energy to basic food producing life maintaining the food chain supplying energy to man

Which ecosystem is the most resistant to permanent change?

diverse organisms in a large region

Examples of good management to maintain or restore the balance of nature are:

duplicate natural processes of the environment. adjust living things to the environment. introduce new substances or species if another alternative is suitable. make decisions on biology, ecology, and environmental conditions.

A state of change in which the end result is equal or balanced

dynamic equilibrium

A state of change in which the end result is equal or balanced.

dynamic equilibrium

A scientist who studies the relationships of living things to each other and to their environment.

ecologist

The knowledge or life science that studies how living things depend on each other and their environment - the relationships of an organism with its total environment.

ecology

A framework which attempts to show the interrelationships of plants, animals, and the environment in a defined area is called a(n)

ecosystem

The basic relationships that show how a community of plants, animals, and bacteria live and grow;and how these living things are dependent on each other as well as the sun, soil, and other nonliving parts of their environment; a cycle of relationships.

ecosystem

The ability to do work.

energy

The total surroundings or all the conditions that affect the life and growth of living things.

environment

The building blocks of a habitat consist of _____ factors.

environmental

A condition or conditions of the nonliving surroundings, such as light, temperature, water, and so on.

environmental factor

It is now understood that life requires a simultaneous coexistence of numerous interdependent cycles. This fact essentially precludes _________ processes.

evolutionary

The environmental factors of a habitat are bounded by the ______ of conditions which an organism can tolerate.

extreme

A small upset in the balance always results in the death of a whole community.

false

Any given ecosystem will right itself given sufficient time, including all living and nonliving things affected by it.

false

Ecological systems can never be adequately understood.

false

Good management practices are based on politics and economics.

false

Introducing additional organisms of the same existing kinds will not upset the ecosystem.

false

Man's physiology is capable of converting solar energy to meet his needs.

false

The relationships between organisms and their environment are peripheral.

false

Ecology is the study of the differences between plants and animals in their environment.

false: Study of life relationships within an environment

All forms of life on earth are linked together in relationships involving _____.

food

A series of food energy steps from plants to animals to other animals in a community of living things

food chain

A series of food energy steps from plants to animals to other animals in a community of living things. Food relationships show where organisms get their food; each member on the chain feeds on the preceding chain link.

food chain

The place where a community of plants and animals lives; the place where some organism is usually found.

habitat

A habitat that has less oxygen and less air pressure than many organisms require would be a:

high mountaintop

Each component of an ecosystem is:

interdependent

A mutual dependency, connection, or interaction; a mutual relationship.

interrelationship

(Select all that apply.) Choose from the following all the environmental factors upon which plants and animals depend.

light air minerals temperature growing season surface features water elevation

The location of the Earth and its quantity of solar radiation has permitted the unique presence of _________ in the solar system.

liquid water

Ecology is made up of:

many sciences

The basic materials of which all living things are formed are _________ substances.

nonliving

Which answer best indicates the dynamic balance of an ecosystem?

number and variety of organisms vs. changing environment

Which statements reflect dynamic equilibrium of an ecosystem?

number of existing organisms will reflect changing factors any change on either side will require a compensation on the other side

A self-reproducing plant or animal.

organism

Putting together food molecules from chlorophyll and the light energy from the sun.

photosynthesis

Putting together food molecules with chlorophyll and the light energy from the sun

photosynthesis

The most important food-producing organisms of the ocean are

phytoplankton

The tiny, free-floating plants in a lake or ocean; microscopic green algae

phytoplankton

The tiny, free-floating plants in a lake or ocean; microscopic green algae.

phytoplankton

The tiny, free-floating surface organisms of a lake, stream, or ocean

plankton

The tiny, free-floating surface organisms of a lake, stream, or ocean.

plankton

The first link in any food chain is always a(n)

plant

A scientific statement that explains a concept, action, or effect; how a concept works.

principle

Interrelationship implies a(n) ______ reliance.

reciprocal

In ecology, the ways living things depend on each other and their environment.

relationship

Removing plants or animals from their ecosystem:

requires knowledge to determine the extent of the effect needs to be conducted in small increments to determine the potential effects

A part of the environment that may be used for aid or assistance in meeting a need. Examples are water, forests, minerals, and petroleum.

resource

Some environmental factors are studied by the use of:

space satellites

The word ecology comes from Greek words meaning:

study of houses

(Select all that apply.) Choose the main components of an ecosystem.

sun soil water climate plants herbivores carnivores decomposers

What is meant by "solar radiation equilibrium" in the related ecology principle?

the complex atmospheric conditions combined with the net influx and radiation outflux

How do phytoplankton affect the ecosystem of the entire earth?

through the oxygen cycle

Air, water, and soil are essential environmental factors.

true

All living things affect all other living things.

true

Ecology is concerned with relationships.

true

Ecosystems which are left to the natural state tend to remain balanced.

true

Everything living and nonliving are connected to everything else.

true

Natural catastrophes can upset the balance of an ecosystem.

true

Not having enough space can upset the balance of nature.

true

Disturbance of the natural environment often produces _______ results.

unexpected

The tiny, free-floating animals in a lake, stream, or ocean; rotifers, brine shrimp, and water fleas

zooplankton

The tiny, free-floating animals in a lake, stream, or ocean; rotifers, brine shrimp, and water fleas.

zooplankton