| The
Scope of Ecology |
| 1. |
Define ecology.
Identify the two features of organisms studied by ecologists. |
| 2. |
Describe the relationship
between ecology and evolutionary biology. |
| 3. |
Distinguish between
abiotic and biotic components of the environment. |
| 4. |
Distinguish among
organismal ecology, population ecology, community ecology,
ecosystem ecology, and landscape ecology. |
| 5. |
Clarify the difference
between ecology and environmentalism. |
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Interactions
Between Organisms and the Environment Affect the Distribution of
Species |
| 6. |
Define biogeography. |
| 7. |
Describe the questions
that might be asked in a study addressing the limits of the
geographic distribution of a particular species. |
| 8. |
Describe the problems
caused by introduced species and illustrate with a specific
example. |
| 9. |
Explain how habitat
selection may limit distribution of a species within its range of
suitable habitats. |
| 10. |
Describe, with examples,
how biotic and abiotic factors may affect the distribution of
organisms. |
| 11. |
List the four abiotic
factors that are the most important components of climate. |
| 12. |
Distinguish between
macroclimate and microclimate patterns. |
| 13. |
Provide an example of a
microclimate. |
| 14. |
Explain, with examples,
how a body of water and a mountain range might affect regional
climatic conditions. |
| 15. |
Describe how an ecologist
might predict the effect of global warming on distribution of a
tree species. |
| 16. |
Name three ways in which
marine biomes affect the biosphere. |
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Aquatic
and Terrestrial Biomes |
| 17. |
Describe the
characteristics of the major aquatic biomes: lakes, wetlands,
streams, rivers, estuaries, intertidal biomes, oceanic pelagic
biomes, coral reefs, and marine benthic biomes. |
| 18. |
Define the following
characteristics of lakes: seasonal turnover, thermal
stratification, thermocline, photic zone. |
| 19. |
Explain why the following
statement is false: “All communities on Earth are based on
primary producers that capture light energy by photosynthesis.” |
| 20. |
Describe the
characteristics of the major terrestrial biomes: tropical forest,
desert, savanna, chaparral, temperate grassland, coniferous
forest, temperate broadleaf forest, and tundra. |
| 21. |
Give an example of a
biome characterized by periodic disturbance. |
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