Why do environmentalists favor the term food web as opposed to food chain?
What will be an ideal response?
Ecological systems are far more complex than simple linear chains. Feeding relationships and energy flow among interacting organisms may take many paths within the community and involve hundreds or thousands of species. For instance, Figure 4.9 in the text illustrates how grasses are food for a variety of animals such as deer, mice, and rabbits. Birds eat a variety of insects, spiders, and berries. Soil bacteria decompose a variety of dead plants and animals. It is through the analysis of food webs that ecologists can identify keystone species and study the components of phase shifts in damaged communities.
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Trade winds are found ________
A) over most of Earth between 25° North and 25° South B) 25° of latitude north and south of the Arctic Circle C) centered on the longitudinal zone of the prime meridian D) north of the monsoon regions E) over all of the world's deserts
For other stars in our galaxy that go through a similar life cycle to our sun, which star is currently in the late stage of its life cycle?
A) Alpha Centauri B) Procyon B C) Barnard's Star D) Polaris
Which of the following changes happen as a result of freshly fallen snow?
A. Sound waves are amplified. B. Sound waves are absorbed. C. The intensity of visible light is decreased. D. The intensity of visible light is enhanced.
When a population stops growing and its size no longer fluctuates, it is said to
A. be at stable equilibrium. B. be at the lag phase. C. be at the death phase. D. have met its biotic potential.