Ecology Test Review

Front 1

Carrying Capacity

Back 1

The number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.

Front 2

Environmental Resistance (ERF)

Back 2

Aspects of an environment which constrain the growth of a population and establish the maximum number of individuals that can be sustained. Some factors include essential resources (food and water), predation, disease, the accumulation of toxic metabolic wastes, stress caused by overcrowding.

Front 3

Lack Of light (ERF)

Back 3

Especially important for plants. Plants compete for light to photsynthesize and develop

Front 4

Shortage of Food (ERP)

Back 4

The greater the population, the more severe the competition for food, water, prey...

Front 5

Predators (ERP)

Back 5

Their presence keeps down the population number

Front 6

Lack of Shelter (ERP)

Back 6

Animals compete for this. Shelter from predators or physical factors

Front 7

Disease (ERP)

Back 7

One of the most potent forces in checking the uncontrolled growth of populations. Overcrowding encourages the spread of disease

Front 8

Accumulation of Toxic Waste (ERP)

Back 8

Powerful factor in checking growth. Ex a buildup of mercury in fresh water systems could kill all the fish

Front 9

Psychological Factors

Back 9

Overcrowding may discourage many to breed. Some animals have territories. Ex. Birds to prevent overcrowding

Front 10

Bioamplification

Back 10

Is when pesticides accumulates as you go higher up the food chain (Basically if a rabbit eats grass that was sprayed with pesticides, and we eat the rabbit we can get poisoned from that meat)

Front 11

Mutualism

Back 11

A relationship between two or more organisms in which both organisms benefit

Front 12

Commenalism

Back 12

A relationship in which one organism benefits but the other is neither harmed nor helped

Front 13

Niche

Back 13

The role a species has in it's environment

Front 14

Habitat

Back 14

Where a species lives

Front 15

Symbiosis (Definition)

Back 15

A relationship where two or more organisms depend on each other for resourcesEx.Resources serve an organism (such as food, shelter, etc.

Front 16

Acid Rain

Back 16

Refers to any type of precipitation which becomes acidic in nature

Front 17

Acid Rain formation

Back 17

Complex mixture of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid along with nitric acid and nitrous acid

Front 18

Acid Rain (Sea life)

Back 18

When acid mixes with the watersystem/cycle it can kill fish and even prevent eggs from hatching which results in a major decrease in the fish population

Front 19

Acid Rain (Plant life)

Back 19

When acid falls it sucks up all necessary nutrients and necessities of a plant. Which results in not only poisoning the crops or plants but possibly even killing them. Which result in them not being used for anything.

Front 20

Natural Ecosystems

Back 20

Are an important source of valuable resources

Front 21

Natural Fertilizers

Back 21

Are plant nutrients that have been obtained from natural resources and have not been chemically altered

Front 22

Synthetic fertilizers

Back 22

Are fertilizers manufactured using chemical processes

Front 23

Sustainability

Back 23

Being able to supply a generation of species and having enough for future generations (Ex. Not littering can help sustainability, including walking instead of driving and putting unnecessary amounts of CO2 in the air)

Front 24

Carbon Footprint

Back 24

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)