UMN BIOL 1009 GENERAL BIOLOGY
FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025/2026
ACTUAL SPRING EXAM GRADED A
Fundamental Niche
the entire niche that species is theoretically capable of occupying in the absence of competition
Realized Niche
the portion of teh fundamental niche to which a species is restrained as a result of competition
with other species
Competition
utilization of the same limiting resource by individuals of two or more species
Limiting Resource
any substance used by an organism for growth, maintenance, or reproduction that can lead to
decreased population growth rates as its availability decreases
Competitive Exclusion
2 species that need the same limiting resource cannot coexist if niches are identical
Resource partitioning
solution to competitive exclusion in which the species uses slightly different resources to
coexist in a community
Character Displacement
a solution to competitive exclusion in which species diverge morphologically
food chain
pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to the next
Trophic Level
, species level defined by source of nutrition
Primary Producer
photosynthetic organisms
Primary Consumer
herbivores
Secondary Consumer
carnivores that eat herbivores
Tertiary Consumer
carnivores that eat carnivores
detrivores
derive energy from organic waste
food web
all of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem
energy pyramid
transfer of energy through tropic levels
-primary producer:1% transfer to next level
-consumer: 10% transfer to next level
Ecosystem
all the organisms living in a community and all of the interacting abiotic factors
Biogeochemical Cycle
any of the various chemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components of
ecosytems
Hydrolic Cycle
a biogeochemical cycle in which water cycles between land, air, and bodies of water
Carbon Cycle
FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025/2026
ACTUAL SPRING EXAM GRADED A
Fundamental Niche
the entire niche that species is theoretically capable of occupying in the absence of competition
Realized Niche
the portion of teh fundamental niche to which a species is restrained as a result of competition
with other species
Competition
utilization of the same limiting resource by individuals of two or more species
Limiting Resource
any substance used by an organism for growth, maintenance, or reproduction that can lead to
decreased population growth rates as its availability decreases
Competitive Exclusion
2 species that need the same limiting resource cannot coexist if niches are identical
Resource partitioning
solution to competitive exclusion in which the species uses slightly different resources to
coexist in a community
Character Displacement
a solution to competitive exclusion in which species diverge morphologically
food chain
pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to the next
Trophic Level
, species level defined by source of nutrition
Primary Producer
photosynthetic organisms
Primary Consumer
herbivores
Secondary Consumer
carnivores that eat herbivores
Tertiary Consumer
carnivores that eat carnivores
detrivores
derive energy from organic waste
food web
all of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem
energy pyramid
transfer of energy through tropic levels
-primary producer:1% transfer to next level
-consumer: 10% transfer to next level
Ecosystem
all the organisms living in a community and all of the interacting abiotic factors
Biogeochemical Cycle
any of the various chemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components of
ecosytems
Hydrolic Cycle
a biogeochemical cycle in which water cycles between land, air, and bodies of water
Carbon Cycle
