IB Biology Topic: Ecology (correct answers)
Ecology correct answers The science of the relationships between organisms and their
environments.
Organism correct answers an individual living thing that uses energy, reproduces,
responds, grows, and develops
Species correct answers a 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 all living, or biotic, things in an area
Ecosystem correct answers all biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) things in an area
Autotroph correct answers - also known as a producer
- an organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances using light or
chemical energy.
- eg. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria
Heterotroph correct answers An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating
other organisms or substances derived from them.
Carbon cycle correct answers the continuous process by which carbon is exchanged
between organisms and the environment
Energy flow correct answers - sunlight is the source of energy for most ecosystems
Trophic level correct answers step in a food chain or food web
Food chain correct answers shows the transfer of energy between organisms.
producer --> primary consumer --> secondary consumer --> tertiary consumer
eg. passion flower --> heliconius butterfly --> tegu lizard --> jaguar
the energy in the carbon compounds (food) is released through respiration. much of this
energy is lost as heat.
Food web correct answers network of complex interactions formed by the feeding
relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
, Pyramid of energy correct answers - diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy
or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
- should be stepped
- the length of the bar represents the amount of energy transferred to the trophic level
(resulting in an increase in biomass)
- the unit = KJ m^-2 yr^-1
- around 10% of energy at any trophic level is passed on to the next trophic level
- the number of trophic levels is limited, as there is ever decreasing quantities of energy
available for transfer and the energy is passed along the food chain.
- reasons for loss of energy between the trophic levels include:
* energy is lost as heat due to respiration
* not all of the individuals at each trophic level is consumed
* not all parts of the organism can be digested.
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
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
Primary Consumer correct answers Consumer that feeds directly on producers;
The animal that directly eats the producer;
this category includes organisms that consume producers (plants and algae).
Secondary Consumer correct answers An organism that eats primary consumers;
A member of the trophic level of an ecosystem consisting of carnivores that eat
herbivores;
eats primary consumers
Tertiary Consumer correct answers An organism that eats secondary consumers;
The third trophic level of consumer in a food chain; A carnivore that eats other
carnivores.
Detritivore correct answers organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other
dead matter (ex. vultures, earthworms, crabs, etc.)
Saprotroph correct answers an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter,
secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion (e.g.
mushrooms, bacteria);
Obtains nutrients from decaying organic matter
Ecology correct answers The science of the relationships between organisms and their
environments.
Organism correct answers an individual living thing that uses energy, reproduces,
responds, grows, and develops
Species correct answers a 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 all living, or biotic, things in an area
Ecosystem correct answers all biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) things in an area
Autotroph correct answers - also known as a producer
- an organism capable of making its own food from inorganic substances using light or
chemical energy.
- eg. Green plants, algae, and certain bacteria
Heterotroph correct answers An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating
other organisms or substances derived from them.
Carbon cycle correct answers the continuous process by which carbon is exchanged
between organisms and the environment
Energy flow correct answers - sunlight is the source of energy for most ecosystems
Trophic level correct answers step in a food chain or food web
Food chain correct answers shows the transfer of energy between organisms.
producer --> primary consumer --> secondary consumer --> tertiary consumer
eg. passion flower --> heliconius butterfly --> tegu lizard --> jaguar
the energy in the carbon compounds (food) is released through respiration. much of this
energy is lost as heat.
Food web correct answers network of complex interactions formed by the feeding
relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
, Pyramid of energy correct answers - diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy
or matter within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
- should be stepped
- the length of the bar represents the amount of energy transferred to the trophic level
(resulting in an increase in biomass)
- the unit = KJ m^-2 yr^-1
- around 10% of energy at any trophic level is passed on to the next trophic level
- the number of trophic levels is limited, as there is ever decreasing quantities of energy
available for transfer and the energy is passed along the food chain.
- reasons for loss of energy between the trophic levels include:
* energy is lost as heat due to respiration
* not all of the individuals at each trophic level is consumed
* not all parts of the organism can be digested.
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
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
Primary Consumer correct answers Consumer that feeds directly on producers;
The animal that directly eats the producer;
this category includes organisms that consume producers (plants and algae).
Secondary Consumer correct answers An organism that eats primary consumers;
A member of the trophic level of an ecosystem consisting of carnivores that eat
herbivores;
eats primary consumers
Tertiary Consumer correct answers An organism that eats secondary consumers;
The third trophic level of consumer in a food chain; A carnivore that eats other
carnivores.
Detritivore correct answers organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other
dead matter (ex. vultures, earthworms, crabs, etc.)
Saprotroph correct answers an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter,
secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion (e.g.
mushrooms, bacteria);
Obtains nutrients from decaying organic matter
