Ecology Unit (correct answers)
Species correct answers group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile
offspring
Population correct answers group of individuals of the same species that live in the
same area
Community correct answers assemblage of different populations that live together in a
defined area
Ecosystem correct answers collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place,
together with their nonliving environment
Biome correct answers group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant
communities
Biosphere correct answers part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air
or atmosphere
Carbon cycle correct answers the circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere as a
result of photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds
by plants, which are consumed by other organisms: the carbon returns to the
atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide
Nitrogen cycle correct answers the circulation of nitrogen in nature, consisting of a cycle
of chemical reactions in which atmospheric nitrogen is compounded, dissolved in rain,
and deposited in the soil, where it is assimilated and metabolized by bacteria and
plants, eventually returning to the atmosphere by bacterial decomposition of organic
matter
Reservoir (sink) correct answers a place where anything is collected or accumulated in
great amount
Nitrogen-fixation correct answers process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Trophic level correct answers step in a food chain or food web
Food chain correct answers series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer
energy by eating and being eaten
Food web correct answers network of complex interactions formed by the feeding
relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
Ecological pyramid correct answers diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy
or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
, Producer correct answers organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals
and use it to produce food from inorganic compounds; also called an autotroph
Consumer correct answers organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and
food supply; also called a heterotroph
Decomposer correct answers organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead
organic matter
Detritivore correct answers organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other
dead matter
Detritus correct answers particles of organic material that provide food for organisms at
the base of an estuary's food web
Herbivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
Carnivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating animals
Omnivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and
animals
10% Rule correct answers Only 10% of the energy in one trophic level gets passed onto
the next trophic level
Biological magnification correct answers increasing concentration of a harmful
substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web
Microorganism correct answers an organism that is microscopic or submicroscopic,
which means it is too small to be seen by the unaided human eye; examples include
bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists; viruses, although microscopic, are not considered
microorganisms by others because they are generally regarded as non-living
Decomposer correct answers organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead
organic matter
Compost correct answers decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer
Nitrogen fixation correct answers process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Mycorrhizae correct answers symbiotic association of plant roots and fungi
Habitat correct answers the area where an organism lives, including the biotic and
abiotic factors that affect it
Species correct answers group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile
offspring
Population correct answers group of individuals of the same species that live in the
same area
Community correct answers assemblage of different populations that live together in a
defined area
Ecosystem correct answers collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place,
together with their nonliving environment
Biome correct answers group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant
communities
Biosphere correct answers part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air
or atmosphere
Carbon cycle correct answers the circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere as a
result of photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds
by plants, which are consumed by other organisms: the carbon returns to the
atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide
Nitrogen cycle correct answers the circulation of nitrogen in nature, consisting of a cycle
of chemical reactions in which atmospheric nitrogen is compounded, dissolved in rain,
and deposited in the soil, where it is assimilated and metabolized by bacteria and
plants, eventually returning to the atmosphere by bacterial decomposition of organic
matter
Reservoir (sink) correct answers a place where anything is collected or accumulated in
great amount
Nitrogen-fixation correct answers process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Trophic level correct answers step in a food chain or food web
Food chain correct answers series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer
energy by eating and being eaten
Food web correct answers network of complex interactions formed by the feeding
relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
Ecological pyramid correct answers diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy
or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
, Producer correct answers organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals
and use it to produce food from inorganic compounds; also called an autotroph
Consumer correct answers organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and
food supply; also called a heterotroph
Decomposer correct answers organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead
organic matter
Detritivore correct answers organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other
dead matter
Detritus correct answers particles of organic material that provide food for organisms at
the base of an estuary's food web
Herbivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
Carnivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating animals
Omnivore correct answers organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and
animals
10% Rule correct answers Only 10% of the energy in one trophic level gets passed onto
the next trophic level
Biological magnification correct answers increasing concentration of a harmful
substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web
Microorganism correct answers an organism that is microscopic or submicroscopic,
which means it is too small to be seen by the unaided human eye; examples include
bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists; viruses, although microscopic, are not considered
microorganisms by others because they are generally regarded as non-living
Decomposer correct answers organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead
organic matter
Compost correct answers decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer
Nitrogen fixation correct answers process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Mycorrhizae correct answers symbiotic association of plant roots and fungi
Habitat correct answers the area where an organism lives, including the biotic and
abiotic factors that affect it
