GCU BIO 220 Exam 1 Study Guide
Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Environmental Science - ANSWERSthe systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it
Interdisciplinary Enviromental Science - ANSWERSNatural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities
Scientific Method - ANSWERSidentify question, form hypothesis, collect date to test hypothesis, interpret
results, report for peer review, publish findings
ecological footprint - ANSWERSthe impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as
the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.
carbon footprint - ANSWERSthe amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to
the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.
Three Pillars of Sustainability - ANSWERSenvironment, economy, society
abiotic factors - ANSWERSNonliving components of environment.
biotic factors - ANSWERSAll the living organisms that inhabit an environment
levels of organization for life - ANSWERS1. life is organized
2. a living organism can adapt to changes in the environment
3. it can regulate the metabolism and maintain homeostasis
4. it can grow
5. it is capable of reproducing
, Species - ANSWERSindividuals that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring
Population - ANSWERSall of the individuals of a species that live in the same area
geographic distribution - ANSWERSthe area inhabited by a population
Density - ANSWERSthe number of individuals of the same species that live in a given unit of area
population growth 3 factors - ANSWERSnumber of births, number of deaths, and individuals that enter
(immigration) or leave (emigration) a population
Community - ANSWERSAll the different populations that live together in an area
Ecosystem - ANSWERSA community of organisms and their abiotic environment
carrying capacity - ANSWERSLargest number of individuals of a population that a environment can
support
limiting factors - ANSWERSA factor that causes population growth to decrease
density dependent factors - ANSWERSlimiting factor that depends on population size (effects large
populations)
density independent factors - ANSWERSlimiting factor that affects all populations in similar ways,
regardless of population size (ex: natural disaster)
competition - ANSWERScrowded organisms compete with one another for food, water, space, sunlight,
& other essentials
Predation - ANSWERSAn interaction in which one organism kills another for food.
Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Environmental Science - ANSWERSthe systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it
Interdisciplinary Enviromental Science - ANSWERSNatural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities
Scientific Method - ANSWERSidentify question, form hypothesis, collect date to test hypothesis, interpret
results, report for peer review, publish findings
ecological footprint - ANSWERSthe impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as
the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.
carbon footprint - ANSWERSthe amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to
the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.
Three Pillars of Sustainability - ANSWERSenvironment, economy, society
abiotic factors - ANSWERSNonliving components of environment.
biotic factors - ANSWERSAll the living organisms that inhabit an environment
levels of organization for life - ANSWERS1. life is organized
2. a living organism can adapt to changes in the environment
3. it can regulate the metabolism and maintain homeostasis
4. it can grow
5. it is capable of reproducing
, Species - ANSWERSindividuals that can breed with one another and produce fertile offspring
Population - ANSWERSall of the individuals of a species that live in the same area
geographic distribution - ANSWERSthe area inhabited by a population
Density - ANSWERSthe number of individuals of the same species that live in a given unit of area
population growth 3 factors - ANSWERSnumber of births, number of deaths, and individuals that enter
(immigration) or leave (emigration) a population
Community - ANSWERSAll the different populations that live together in an area
Ecosystem - ANSWERSA community of organisms and their abiotic environment
carrying capacity - ANSWERSLargest number of individuals of a population that a environment can
support
limiting factors - ANSWERSA factor that causes population growth to decrease
density dependent factors - ANSWERSlimiting factor that depends on population size (effects large
populations)
density independent factors - ANSWERSlimiting factor that affects all populations in similar ways,
regardless of population size (ex: natural disaster)
competition - ANSWERScrowded organisms compete with one another for food, water, space, sunlight,
& other essentials
Predation - ANSWERSAn interaction in which one organism kills another for food.
