AICE Environmental Management
Midterm questions and answers
What is the biosphere? - correct answer-the region within which all living things are found on
Earth, extending from the bottom of the oceans into Earth's crust to the upper atmosphere
Levels of Organization in Ecology - correct answer-individual, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, biosphere
individual - correct answer-a single organism
population - correct answer-A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live
in the same area
community - correct answer-a naturally occurring group of organisms living together as an
ecological entity
ecosystem - correct answer-A biological community of interacting organisms and their
physical environment or habitat
biome - correct answer-a large community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat
biosphere - correct answer-part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or
atmosphere
2 major components of an ecosystem - correct answer-abiotic and biotic
fundamental niche - correct answer-the full range of environmental conditions (abiotic and
biotic) under which an organism can exist
realized niche - correct answer-the niche that is actually occupied (narrower than
fundamental)
Law of Tolerance - correct answer-"For each abiotic factor, an organism has a range of
tolerances within which it can survive." (Degree to which living organisms are capable of
tolerating changes in their environment)
how does the law of tolerance affect an organism's niche? example? - correct answer-The
ranges of environmental factors an organism can endure determine in which niche it can live
comfortably. Ex: Salmon start their life in freshwater and eventually migrate out of the ocean
because their salt tolerance changes.
habitat - correct answer-place where an organisms or a community of organisms lives,
including all living and nonliving factors or conditions of the surrounding environment
, what are trophic levels? how many do ecosystems usually have? - correct answer-An
individual level or part of a hierarchy of feeding relations which determines the pathways of
energy flow and nutrient cycling. 4 trophic levels
How are species assigned to their trophic level? - correct answer-basis of their nutrition
primary producers - correct answer-Producers, autotrophs, support all other levels, derive
energy from the sun.
primary consumers - correct answer-eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores
(plant-eaters).
secondary consumers - correct answer-organisms that eat primary consumers for energy;
can either be carnivores or omnivores. Carnivores only eat other animals, and omnivores eat
both plant and animal matter.
tertiary consumers - correct answer-at the top of food chains, capable of feeding on
secondary consumers and primary consumers. Tertiary consumers can be either fully
carnivorous or omnivorous.
food chains - correct answer-the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of
food from organism to organism. the sequence of organisms, each which is a food source for
the next
Grass -> grasshopper -> frog -> python -> hawk
How do food chains differ from food webs? - correct answer-Food chains follow one path of
energy and materials between species. A food web is more complex and is a whole system
of connected food chains
the role/meaning of arrows in a food web/chain - correct answer-Depict the direction in which
energy and nutrients flow (from the food to feeder)
What does the 1st Law of Thermodynamics state? - correct answer-Energy can be
transformed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed
How does a food chain/food web follow the 1st law of Thermodynamics? - correct answer-All
energy transfers, gains, and losses in a food web/chain can be accounted for. Living things
need constant energy to keep their functions to live because they can't create or produce
their own energy.
Photosynthesis - correct answer-Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical
energy. A reaction that takes place in the chloroplast of plant's leaves.
how is photosynthesis influenced by different wavelengths? - correct answer-Plants respond
differently to different colors being shone on them, because chlorophyll reflects green light
and absorbs blue and red.
Midterm questions and answers
What is the biosphere? - correct answer-the region within which all living things are found on
Earth, extending from the bottom of the oceans into Earth's crust to the upper atmosphere
Levels of Organization in Ecology - correct answer-individual, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, biosphere
individual - correct answer-a single organism
population - correct answer-A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live
in the same area
community - correct answer-a naturally occurring group of organisms living together as an
ecological entity
ecosystem - correct answer-A biological community of interacting organisms and their
physical environment or habitat
biome - correct answer-a large community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat
biosphere - correct answer-part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or
atmosphere
2 major components of an ecosystem - correct answer-abiotic and biotic
fundamental niche - correct answer-the full range of environmental conditions (abiotic and
biotic) under which an organism can exist
realized niche - correct answer-the niche that is actually occupied (narrower than
fundamental)
Law of Tolerance - correct answer-"For each abiotic factor, an organism has a range of
tolerances within which it can survive." (Degree to which living organisms are capable of
tolerating changes in their environment)
how does the law of tolerance affect an organism's niche? example? - correct answer-The
ranges of environmental factors an organism can endure determine in which niche it can live
comfortably. Ex: Salmon start their life in freshwater and eventually migrate out of the ocean
because their salt tolerance changes.
habitat - correct answer-place where an organisms or a community of organisms lives,
including all living and nonliving factors or conditions of the surrounding environment
, what are trophic levels? how many do ecosystems usually have? - correct answer-An
individual level or part of a hierarchy of feeding relations which determines the pathways of
energy flow and nutrient cycling. 4 trophic levels
How are species assigned to their trophic level? - correct answer-basis of their nutrition
primary producers - correct answer-Producers, autotrophs, support all other levels, derive
energy from the sun.
primary consumers - correct answer-eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores
(plant-eaters).
secondary consumers - correct answer-organisms that eat primary consumers for energy;
can either be carnivores or omnivores. Carnivores only eat other animals, and omnivores eat
both plant and animal matter.
tertiary consumers - correct answer-at the top of food chains, capable of feeding on
secondary consumers and primary consumers. Tertiary consumers can be either fully
carnivorous or omnivorous.
food chains - correct answer-the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of
food from organism to organism. the sequence of organisms, each which is a food source for
the next
Grass -> grasshopper -> frog -> python -> hawk
How do food chains differ from food webs? - correct answer-Food chains follow one path of
energy and materials between species. A food web is more complex and is a whole system
of connected food chains
the role/meaning of arrows in a food web/chain - correct answer-Depict the direction in which
energy and nutrients flow (from the food to feeder)
What does the 1st Law of Thermodynamics state? - correct answer-Energy can be
transformed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed
How does a food chain/food web follow the 1st law of Thermodynamics? - correct answer-All
energy transfers, gains, and losses in a food web/chain can be accounted for. Living things
need constant energy to keep their functions to live because they can't create or produce
their own energy.
Photosynthesis - correct answer-Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical
energy. A reaction that takes place in the chloroplast of plant's leaves.
how is photosynthesis influenced by different wavelengths? - correct answer-Plants respond
differently to different colors being shone on them, because chlorophyll reflects green light
and absorbs blue and red.
