Ecology / APES Review Questions Ch 3
1. What is ecology? Which five of the levels of organization of matter are the main focus of ecology?
2. Distinguish among and between a eukaryotic cell and a prokaryotic cell. (be sure to know what
organelles one doesn’t have and organisms of each type.
3. Be able to describe and give examples of a species, population, community, ecosystem & biosphere
4. How does a habitat differ from an ecosystem?
5. Sketch an Earth & label / describe: atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere &
biosphere.
6. What are biomes and how are they related to climate?
7. Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem and give examples
9. Describe in your own words the range of tolerance concept. How does this range of tolerance idea affect
the structure of ecosystems?
10. What is a limiting factor and how do they affect the structure of ecosystems? List two limiting factors for
terrestrial ecosystems and two for aquatic ecosystems.
11. Distinguish between producers and consumers in ecosystems and give three examples of each type. What is
photosynthesis and why is it important to both producers and consumers? What is chemosynthesis?
12. Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web.
13. On a food chain and or a food web, identify the primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary
consumers, scavengers and decomposers. Why are decomposers important and what would happen
without them? Explain the importance of microbes.
14. Write the chemical equations for photosynthesis and respiration. Explain how they are interconnected in
nature. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
15. Explain the beneficial roles of insects as part of earth’s natural capital.
16. What is biomass?
17. What is the pyramid of energy flow for an ecosystem? What is the effect of the second law of
thermodynamics on the flow of energy through an ecosystem and the amount of food energy available at
the top? What percentage of energy is passed on to the next level? What is ecological efficiency?
18. Explain the difference between gross primary productivity andnet primary productivity. Explain how net
primary productivity affects the number of consumers in an ecosystem and on earth. Identify two of the
most productive ecosystems or aquatic zones and two of the least productive ecosystems or aquatic zones.
19. Explain in your own words what NPP = GPP – R means
20. What is a biogeochemical cycle?
21. What two major processes influence the water cycle. List two things that humans do that alter the cycle.
22. Explain water’s unique properties and how its structure is directly related to the ability of Earth to sustain life.
22. Review the carbon cycle. Explain the roles of photosynthesis and respiration in this cycle. List two things
that humans do that alter the cycle?
23. Review the nitrogen cycle. Explain the difference between nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation,
ammonification and denitrification. Explain why the level of nitrogen in the soil is a limiting factor for
plant growth. List 4 ways that humans alter this cycle.
24. Explain why the level of phosphorus in soil often limits plant growth on land and in fresh water streams and
lakes. List three ways humans alter this cycle.
25. Review the sulfur cycle. Explain its importance in earth’s systems and three ways that humans can alter
this system.
26. Describe 3 ways that scientists study ecosystems and why it is important to collect basic data on ecosystem health.