Ecosystems and Ecology Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Ecosystems and Ecology flashcards as text
Which biome is characterized by permafrost, low precipitation, and very short growing seasons?
Answer: Tundra
The tundra biome has permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost) and supports only low-growing vegetation.
What is the term for species that significantly shape their community's structure, often out of proportion to their abundance?
Answer: Keystone species
Keystone species have a disproportionately large effect on their ecosystem relative to their biomass or numbers.
Which type of symbiosis benefits one organism while the other is neither harmed nor helped?
Answer: Commensalism
Commensalism describes a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
The gradual process by which a community changes over time toward a stable climax community is called:
Answer: Ecological succession
Ecological succession is the sequential development of communities in an area over time.
What is the zone of an aquatic ecosystem where photosynthesis can occur due to sufficient light penetration?
Answer: Photic zone
The photic zone is the sunlit upper layer of water where enough light exists for photosynthesis.
Which nutrient cycle is most directly affected by combustion of fossil fuels?
Answer: Carbon cycle
Burning fossil fuels releases stored carbon as CO₂, significantly altering the natural carbon cycle.